On July 18, 2026, a 12-member volunteer team from the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International conducted a neighborhood cleanup in Hollywood, California, as part of an ongoing initiative using L. Ron Hubbard's book, The Way to Happiness. The effort aimed to improve the area and spread a message of positivity through the distribution of the booklet.
The volunteers began by cleaning along Franklin Avenue heading west, then moved south to Hollywood Boulevard. After the cleanup, they switched to distributing The Way to Happiness booklets to tourists and shopkeepers. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many recipients expressing gratitude and sharing personal connections to the booklet.
A man selling bus tours on Hollywood Boulevard recognized the booklet and said, “I know this book! I read this when I was in prison.” He recalled that reading it brought him calm, adding, “Sometimes you just gotta read, you know, and I remember this book. I liked it. Excellent.” At a coffee shop, a lady behind the counter began reading the booklet immediately and was so pleased that she asked for a stack to place on the counter for customers.
Near a historic church building, an SUV driver rolled down the window and told the volunteers, “Did anybody tell you yet today that you guys are awesome?” The group gave booklets to the occupants. Another man standing at a corner expressed appreciation for the cleanup and agreed the area needed improvement. 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. The group gave him a booklet inscribed with “To” and “From,” plus a second one so he could pass it forward.
Nick Kurtz, the cleanup in-charge, distributed bundles of a dozen booklets at a time. He would approach people and ask, “Hey, do you like to help people?” If they said yes, he explained the booklet's message about being a good neighbor and encouraged them to give copies to others. A family from Riverside took booklets as they got into their car, happy to spread the word. A girl at a crosswalk initially appeared suspicious but after talking with Kurtz, she also accepted a bundle and left pleased.
The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International has donated The Way to Happiness booklets for local neighborhood cleanups for over eight years. The booklet, authored by L. Ron Hubbard, includes the statement, “Happiness lies in engaging in worthwhile activities. . . . And that is my wish for you.” More information about the church's activities can be found at https://www.scientology.cc.
