Each day, hundreds of Milwaukeeans dedicate time, energy and financial resources to important work for non-profit organizations in the community.

These people -- who work on the front lines for causes including the environment, education, the arts, social issues, charities, health care, politics, religion, animal protection, sports and other endeavors -- go about their business without a great deal of fanfare or recognition.

In order to help rectify that, and create awareness for worthy causes throughout the area, OnMilwaukee.com created the Non-profit Spotlight. The featured organization today is Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc., known to thousands as the MACC Fund.

ORGANIZATION: Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc.

FOUNDED: Many Milwaukeeans know the story about the MACC Fund's creation in 1976. Retiring Bucks guard Jon McGlocklin and announcer Eddie Doucette, whose 2-year-old son, Brett, had been stricken with cancer the year before, wanted to something to raise money to help the fight against pediatric cancer.

MISSION: The MACC Fund supports pediatric cancer and blood disorder research in Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1976, the MACC Fund has contributed close to $40 million.

The primary beneficiary of MACC Fund support is the Midwest Children's Cancer Center, a collaborative effort of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

Researchers work in the six-story MACC Fund Research Center of the Medical College of Wisconsin. Some funds also are sent to the University of Wisconsin's Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, where research will be conducted next spring in the MACC Fund Pediatric Cancer Research Wing of the Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research.

The MACC Fund also supports clinical and translational research in the new MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

DRIVING FORCE: The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 10,000 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the US. Childhood cancer causes close to 1,500 deaths per year. When the MACC Fund began, five-year survival rates for children with cancer were around 20 percent. Today, it is u around 80 percent.

BIG GIFT: While much of the city was gearing up for Summerfest, officials at the MACC Fund enjoyed one of the biggest days in the organization's history. The Fund pledged a gift of $5 million over the next six years to Children's Hospital to support the outpatient cancer clinic's translational research. To honor the gift, the clinic will be renamed MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

"It's an incredible day," said John Cary, executive director of the MACC Fund. "It's amazing to think of where we've come in 30 years."

ROBINADE: Earlier this summer, former Brewers star Robin Yount and the MACC Fund unveiled "Robinade," a lemonade beverage available at stores across Wisconsin. A portion of the profits go to the MACC Fund.

"My goal is to present the MACC Fund with a significantly large amount of money every year," Yount said. "Robinade is as all-American as baseball and will benefit kids all over Wisconsin. I'm thrilled that old and new fans can share in a refreshing experience this summer with Robinade."

HOW YOU CAN HELP: "What we need, more than anything, is money," Cary said. "That's what we do. We raise money to fund research. But, the great thing about the MACC Fund is that we are an event-driven organization. Whether it's through golf tournaments, softball tournaments, the Trek 100 Ride For Hope or through things like Candy Cane Lane or the Bucks' MACC Fund game, people associate our organization with events and they have usually have a good time and feel good about themselves while they're doing it."