Author Archives: Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre

The 12th Zaragoza Awards Pay Tribute to the Courage, Achievements and Heritage of the Los Angeles Mexican Community

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The 12th Zaragoza Awards was hosted by the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood for a celebration of Cinco de Mayo organized by Mr. Pedro Ramos, president of the L.A.-based nonprofit UPEXT, Union de Poblanos en el Exterior (Union of People from Puebla Living Abroad).

Cinco de Mayo is a day of pride and unity, honoring the Mexican community's rich cultural traditions and its enduring spirit of resilience against adversity. It holds a special significance for those hailing from the state of Puebla. The award takes its name from General Ignacio Zaragoza, who secured Mexico's future by leading 2,000 Mexican soldiers to victory against 6,000 invading French troops at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Cinco de Mayo has become a symbol of tenacity and courage - a powerful reminder of the strength and perseverance that characterizes the Mexican-American community.

The celebration included a performance of the play Cinco de Mayo-an American Tradition by Dr. David Hayes-Bautista.

The Zaragoza Awards ceremony honored Mexican Americans selected for their leadership and outstanding service in the fields of immigration, public service, communications, education, business, sports and culture. Each awardee succeeded despite great challenges in the courageous spirit of General Zaragoza.

UPEXT is dedicated to helping the Los Angeles Mexican migrant community face and prevail over the many challenges of living far from home. They contend with a different language and culture and often face economic hardships, and limited access to healthcare and education. UPEXT is also dedicated to reuniting families. It has brought together more than 550 families by helping secure visitor visas for parents and grandparents who, in many cases, have not seen their children or grandchildren for decades. It also organizes programs to assist with social services and to promote pride in the culture and heritage of Puebla.

Scientology Churches of Los Angeles, including the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles, and the Church of Scientology of the Valley, work with UPEXT and Mr. Ramos in support of the human rights, culture and values of the Los Angeles Latinx communities. The Church is deeply committed to the rights of all, inspired by L. Ron Hubbard, who believed that "human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream."

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The 12th Zaragoza Awards was hosted by the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood for a celebration of Cinco de Mayo organized by Mr. Pedro Ramos, president of the L.A.-based nonprofit UPEXT, Union de Poblanos en el Exterior (Union of People from Puebla Living Abroad).

Related link: https://www.scientology.cc/

Celebrating Earth Day With a Venice Beach Cleanup and a Call for Greater Environmental Responsibility

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Even before Barbie and Ken entered the "real world," rollerblading in their dayglo outfits along its three-mile coastline, Venice Beach was a world-famous, iconic, great place to have some fun. But that wasn't the only reason the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre and its Hollywood Village Team selected Venice Beach for their April cleanup and their annual Earth Day activity.

Despite its glitzy exterior, Venice has a darker side. Although there are fewer homeless in Venice since a major push to clean out encampments in 2023, and while it's a great place for tourists and locals to spend an afternoon, Venice Beach is one of the L.A. neighborhoods where visitors and locals are urged to avoid walking or taking public transportation after the sun goes down. And they are advised to "keep their wallets close and their friends closer."

What makes a city or neighborhood dangerous? And is there anything one person can do to improve this and uplift their environment?

The Hollywood Village believes there is. Each month following their cleanups, they reach out to others one-on-one with The Way to Happiness - the common-sense moral code written by author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

This guide to better living is used by people of all cultures or creeds. It not only encourages individuals to embrace its practical moral compass, it also calls on them to set a good example and encourage others to improve the quality of their lives by understanding and using the book's 21 precepts, one of which is "Safeguard and Improve Your Environment."

So on Saturday, April 20, volunteers honored Earth Day with a cleanup of Venice Beach and promoted taking greater responsibility for the environment and contributing to a better quality of life by reaching out to hundreds of locals and visitors with The Way to Happiness and encouraging shops and restaurants to take copies to share with their clients and customers.

Hollywood Village monthly cleanups are a partnership between the Church of Scientology, The Way to Happiness Foundation and the Los Angeles Police Department. It is a community coalition of people of all faiths, ideologies and backgrounds, working together to take greater responsibility for their neighbors and neighborhood while making Hollywood, and in this case Venice Beach, beautiful, safe and clean and a great place to live and work in.

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https://youtu.be/FN34zm5375Y?si=Jm9fmkxTPkI3vXEO

Even before Barbie and Ken entered the "real world," rollerblading in their dayglo outfits along its three-mile coastline, Venice Beach was a world-famous, iconic, great place to have some fun. But that wasn't the only reason the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre and its Hollywood Village Team selected Venice Beach for their April cleanup and their annual Earth Day activity.

Related link: https://www.scientology.cc/

Skateboard Legend Steve Berra Partners with LAPD Hollywood Division for Charitable Skateboard Giveaway

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- As part of a toy giveaway in Hollywood for underserved youth, organized by the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in conjunction with LAPD Hollywood youth development programs, Scientologist and legendary skateboarder Steve Berra donated signature skateboards, hoodies, and Berra's Berrics Cariuma CATIBA Pro skate shoes. And what could be more appropriate in a town known as the birthplace of modern skateboarding.

Berra hand-delivered the donated items to the children.

Hollywood police officers mentor at-risk youth and organize educational and athletic activities. Officers not only serve as positive role models, they also promote academic achievement and leadership skills youth need to create their own future.

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre supports these LAPD programs with giveaways like this and annual "Christmas Stories" fundraisers that have raised more than $500,000 for these community programs since 1993.

The Church and LAPD also collaborate to make Hollywood beautiful, safe and clean with their annual Faith & Blue activities and monthly cleanups through the Hollywood Village initiative, a partnership between the Church of Scientology, the LAPD, local merchants and The Way to Happiness Foundation.

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VIDEO:

https://www.scientology.org/22-23/#the-way-to-happiness-faith-and-blue

As part of a toy giveaway in Hollywood for underserved youth, organized by the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in conjunction with LAPD Hollywood youth development programs, Scientologist and legendary skateboarder Steve Berra donated signature skateboards, hoodies, and Berra's Berrics Cariuma CATIBA Pro skate shoes. And what could be more appropriate in a town known as the birthplace of modern skateboarding.

Related link: https://www.scientology.cc/

Jenna Elfman Hosts ‘Christmas Stories’ To Benefit Underserved Children

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre presented "Christmas Stories" December 1 and 2. Artists, including Golden Globe Award-winning actress Jenna Elfman ("Fear the Walking Dead") and Emmy Award-winners Nancy Cartwright ("The Simpsons") and Michelle Stafford ("The Young and the Restless"), performed holiday-themed skits and songs to raise funds to benefit the Hollywood Police Department's youth development programs for at-risk youth. Show proceeds also support the Hollywood Police Department's annual holiday toy give-away for underserved children.

The Christmas Stories stage is a 1930s-style radio show setting. Since 1993, the annual benefit has raised more than $500,000 for these community programs.

Hollywood police youth programs are operated by the police officers themselves and include educational, recreational and athletics activities as an alternative to gangs. This approach furnishes positive role models for Hollywood youth while providing them leadership and life skills.

Organized in cooperation with the Hollywood community, the Hollywood LAPD holiday toy give-away provides toys to local children who would otherwise have no Christmas gifts. Hundreds of toys are delivered in person each year by LAPD officers.

Stepping to the stage at the beginning of the "Christmas Stories" second act, LAPD Hollywood Division Captain Michael Rippe delivered a heartfelt message of appreciation to the Church and its parishioners. "Drive any boulevard here in Hollywood, you will see the investment that has poured in over the past two decades," he said. "What we have gained in Hollywood is not by accident. It is because of the strong partnerships we have, including the Church. It takes strong partners to raise a community, and that's what we've done. And we end up with a vibrant community where families, and kids and the people that we have reached out to, that the Church has reached out to and touched, know they are going to be supported. They know they will not be forgotten, and they know they will not go without. And that is again, because of your generosity and the partnerships we have created."

Celebrity Center Vice President Greg LaClaire echoed these sentiments. "We present 'Christmas Stories' each year to support our police officers in their efforts to create a safe environment for children in Hollywood," he said. "We believe in and participate in programs that support the safety and wellbeing of the children of our community.

"Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, 'When children become unimportant to a society, that society has forfeited its future.' And we work to make sure their future is bright by supporting Hollywood Police Department's youth development programs and other humanitarian initiatives."

Learn more about the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre at: https://www.scientology.cc/

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre presented "Christmas Stories" December 1 and 2. Artists, including Golden Globe Award-winning actress Jenna Elfman ("Fear the Walking Dead") and Emmy Award-winners Nancy Cartwright ("The Simpsons") and Michelle Stafford ("The Young and the Restless"), performed holiday-themed skits and songs to raise funds to benefit the Hollywood Police Department's youth development programs for at-risk youth.

Related link: https://www.scientology.cc/