PRESS RELEASES
NEW YORK, NY •
Scientology Volunteer Minister, LPN and EMT Ayal Lindeman earned the 2011 Freedom Medal through his exemplary service to mankind.
At the 27th anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists in October 2011, Ayal Lindeman was awarded the IAS Freedom Medal for his humanitarian work as a Scientology Volunteer Minister.
LOS ANGELES •
At this time of year, media often ask how Scientologists observe the holiday season. To answer that question, the Church of Scientology International provides the following:
How do Scientologists celebrate the holiday season?
Observances of the holidays are as diverse as Scientologists are.
Because the Scientology religion is practiced in 165 countries and territories, Scientologists come from a wide variety of faiths and cultural traditions.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA •
Scientology drug prevention initiative—helping to make the truth about drugs available everywhere in 2011
Scientology Churches joined forces with like-minded groups and individuals in 2011, reaching more than 100 million people with factual information on drugs.
LOS ANGELES •
On the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Church of Scientology urges mandatory human rights education as the key to its full implementation of the Declaration.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA •
Government, civic and religious leaders met on Human Rights Day 2011 to discuss the role of government, civil society and the individual in preserving civil liberties and freedom in today’s world.
SOUTH LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA •
City, State and Federal officials joined community leaders, residents and guests in celebrating the Church of Scientology Community Center’s inaugural open house Saturday November 12.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA •
5,000 Scientologists, guests and city officials gathered Saturday November 5, for the dedication of an entirely new Church of Scientology and Church of Scientology Community Center. The Church stands in the heart of downtown, at 315 South Market Street, and reflects the growth of a new Scientology congregation amongst these communities. The neighboring Community Center stands just a few minutes away in South Los Angeles, at 8039 South Vermont Avenue.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA •
5,000 Scientologists, guests and city officials gathered Saturday November 5, for the dedication of an entirely new Church of Scientology and Church of Scientology Community Center. The Church stands in the heart of downtown, at 315 South Market Street, and reflects the growth of a new Scientology congregation amongst these communities. The neighboring Community Center stands just a few minutes away in South Los Angeles, at 8039 South Vermont Avenue.
UNITED KINGDOM •
Scientology 15th Annual Charity Concert at the Church’s UK Headquarters Benefits Sussex Air Ambulance
SAN FRANCISCO, CA •
At 16, Scientologist Lynda Allender had to make an important choice. The past 36 years have proved she chose well.
LOS ANGELES, CA •
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were among those honored at a Red Ribbon Week Ceremony held Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA •
November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Scientologist Cindy Gainsforth knew nothing about the issue until she had to live with the consequences herself, following the premature birth of her son Orion in 2009.
Scientologist Cindy Gainsforth learned about the problems of premature birth the hard way.
“It was Saturday, September 5, 2009, at 6:05 p.m.,” she recalls. “When my water broke, I was 35 1/2 weeks along. My hospital bags were not even packed—nothing was prepared.”
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA •
Scientologists, guests, state and city officials assembled in downtown St. Paul, Saturday October 22, for the dedication of the new Church of Scientology Twin Cities. The Church stands at 505 Wabasha Street and was formerly home to the Science Museum of Minnesota.
INGLEWOOD, CA •
A Scientologist since 1973, Patricia Harris says Scientology transformed her life. Harris wants to share what she has gained with the Inglewood community and South Los Angeles.
With the opening of the Church of Scientology in Inglewood set for November 2011, and the Church’s Scientology Community Center in South Los Angeles opening the same day, Patricia Harris, new Public Affairs Director for the Inglewood Church, says she has never had so much fun working so hard. For Harris, this is a labor of love.
HARLEM, NEW YORK •
Realizing that incarceration does little to really help the community or the individual, Verlene Cheeseboro looked for positive solutions. She found them in Scientology.
Verlene Cheeseboro believes in the future, and the future is our children. But she knows belief is not enough. It takes effective education and the community working together to guarantee their success.
UNITED KINGDOM •
Recently returned home from Geneva where he addressed United Nations representatives, dignitaries, human rights activists, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and youth delegates from 30 countries, Scientologist Niki Lanik takes human rights seriously.
Niki Lanik is a speed freak—not the kind who gets his kicks from pills—the kind who revels in racing cars.
“The adrenalin that you get is huge,” he says.
PASADENA •
Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, Police Chief Phillip Sanchez, and Executive Director of Californians for Drug Free Youth (CADFY) and Director of HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas) Mr. John Redman, were among the community and government leaders joining forces Saturday October 1 at the Church of Scientology of Pasadena, in an anti-drug forum sponsored by The Foundation for a Drug-Free World.
The subject under discussion: Is drug education an effective weapon in the War on Drugs?
JAPAN •
In the wake of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Volunteer Ministers from six continents traveled to Japan to help in the shelters and villages. Scientologist Koji Minami coordinated their actions. He is featured in honor of Scientology Volunteer Ministers week August 20-27, 2011.
The 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan March 11, 2011, killed more than 15,000, displaced 300,000, injured nearly 6,000, and caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damage, creating so much impact it shifted the Earth on its axis by nearly 4 inches.
AUSTRALIA •
Australian Scientologist Peter Dunn has served as a Scientology Volunteer Minister in Haiti, Queensland, and Japan.
At 4 a.m. on March 11, 2011, the shock wave from the magnitude 9 earthquake that triggered a 30-foot tsunami off the northeast coast of Japan reached Australia—not as a physical blast but rather as a summons for Scientologist Peter Dunn to return to Japan and help in her time of need.
SWEDEN •
Agneta Ståhl measures her success by how well those around her are doing—particularly her family. Her video is one of more that 200 “Meet a Scientologist” videos on www.Scientology.org.
Being the best possible mother was always top priority for Agneta Ståhl.