LOS ANGELES — On July 18, 2026, the Hollywood Neighborhood Cleanup team, organized by the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International, took to the streets of Hollywood to clean up the area and distribute copies of L. Ron Hubbard's book, The Way to Happiness. The event, which involved 12 volunteers, aimed to show neighbors, business owners, and tourists a positive action by the Church based on the book's principles.
The cleanup effort began along Franklin Avenue heading west, then turned south down to Hollywood Boulevard. Volunteers switched from using cleanup tools to distributing booklets, engaging with both tourists and shopkeepers. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with several notable interactions highlighting the impact of the initiative.
A man selling tourist bus rides on Hollywood Boulevard recognized the booklet, stating, "I know this book! I read this when I was in prison." He added, "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." Another encounter at a coffee shop saw a lady behind the counter open the booklet and start reading immediately. She became so happy that she asked for a stack to place on the counter for customers.
Near a historic Church building adjacent to an underpass on a busy street, a couple driving by in an SUV rolled down their window and said, "Did anybody tell you yet today that you guys are awesome?" The volunteers thanked them and handed them copies of The Way to Happiness. A man standing at a corner, who lived down the street, expressed appreciation for the cleanup efforts and took a booklet.
Mike, a security guard on Hollywood Boulevard, took two booklets, saying he likes to help people. Glen, who works with the Hollywood Partnership—an organization that cleans Hollywood Boulevard daily—thanked the volunteers and asked if they had seen the movie "Pay it Forward," as he loved the concept of passing along good work. The group gave him a booklet filled out with "To" and "From" and a second one so he could "pay it forward."
Nick Kurtz, the cleanup in-charge, distributed bundles of a dozen booklets at a time. He described his approach: "I would approach someone and say, 'Hey, do you like to help people?' If they said yes, I would say, 'Well, you can really pay it forward with this book. It's a beautiful book about help your parents, love your kids, basically be a good citizen or be a good neighbor to make the world a better place.'" He noted that a family from the Riverside area happily took bundles to spread the word, and a girl at a crosswalk who initially appeared suspicious eventually took a bundle and was happy about it.
For over eight years, the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International has donated The Way to Happiness booklets for local neighborhood cleanups. The booklet, written by L. Ron Hubbard, states, "Happiness lies in engaging in worthwhile activities" and "And that is my wish for you." More information is available at https://www.scientology.cc.
This cleanup event underscores the importance of community engagement and the potential for simple acts of kindness to foster a sense of unity and well-being. By combining environmental stewardship with the distribution of a moral guide, the volunteers aimed to create a ripple effect of positive behavior, encouraging recipients to "pay it forward" and contribute to a better world.
