Spaceguard Foundation

It hasn't been that long ago people thought the idea of an asteroid striking the Earth was a one-in-a-million, longshot-of-longshots, ain't-no-way-that's-gonna-happen-anytime-soon kind of thing.
Then in 1994 we watched comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 break into 22 giant pieces and crash into Jupiter, leaving a gaping scar larger than our planet.
Coincidentally, that same year some really smart people around the world got together and started the Spaceguard Foundation, devoted to finding asteroids that someday pose a threat to Earth.
They don't get much in the way of funding, but they are doing a great service for all humankind. No joke.
Cheers to you, Spaceguard Foundation members!