On July 18, 2026, the Hollywood Neighborhood Cleanup team, organized by the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International, conducted a cleanup and booklet distribution event across several blocks in Hollywood, California. The 12-member volunteer force cleaned along Franklin Avenue heading west, then south to Hollywood Boulevard, before switching to distributing copies of L. Ron Hubbard's The Way to Happiness booklet to passersby, shopkeepers, and tourists.
The initiative, which has been ongoing for over eight years, aims to promote community pride and personal responsibility. According to Nick Kurtz, the cleanup in-charge, the approach was simple: approach individuals and ask if they like to help people, then offer them a bundle of booklets to share. One recipient, a man selling tourist bus rides on Hollywood Boulevard, recognized the booklet and shared that he had read it while in prison. He stated, "Whenever I would read this book, it would just bring me calm. Sometimes you just gotta read, you know, and I remember this book. I liked it. Excellent."
At a local coffee shop, a counter worker became visibly happy upon receiving the booklet and requested a stack to distribute to customers. Another encounter involved a couple in an SUV who rolled down their window to compliment the volunteers, saying, "Did anybody tell you yet today that you guys are awesome?" They were given booklets and expressed gratitude. A resident standing on a corner appreciated the efforts, noting the area's need for improvement.
Mike, a security guard on Hollywood Boulevard, took two booklets, and Glen, a worker with the Hollywood Partnership—an organization that cleans the streets daily—thanked the volunteers. He mentioned the movie "Pay It Forward" and was given two booklets: one for himself and one to pass along. Kurtz observed that many people, including a family from Riverside and a initially skeptical woman at a crosswalk, were happy to accept bundles to share with others.
The event underscores the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International's commitment to community engagement. The The Way to Happiness booklet, written by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion, emphasizes that "Happiness lies in engaging in worthwhile activities." For more information, visit https://www.scientology.cc.
