Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Hosts 44th Anniversary Gala
On Saturday, August 24, the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International hosted its 44th Anniversary Gala in Hollywood. The black-tie event was attended by more than 1,000 guests including such prominent members of the Church as John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Anne Archer, Jenna Elfman, Nancy Cartwright, Michael Pena, Erika Christensen, Emily Armstrong, Cedric Bixler and Laura Prepon. The annual affair culminated in an ensemble musical concert featuring Grammy-winning jazz legend Chick Corea.
The annual celebratory gala spotlights the accomplishments of the Church’s humanitarian programs, including human rights; drug education, prevention and rehabilitation; literacy and learning; disaster relief; and moral values for a modern world. The evening summarizes the unprecedented expansion of Ideal Scientology Organizations (Ideal Orgs) opening in cities world over including in Tel Aviv, Padova, Pretoria and Portland.
Among those addressing the artists and dignitaries were U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown of Florida and Carson City Councilmember Mike Gipson.
Representative Corrine Brown honored the Church’s history of humanitarian work: “When you’re born you get a birth certificate. And when you die you get a death certificate and that little dash in between is what you have done to make this a better place… I really do believe to whom God has given much, much is expected. And you have a great history, Scientology Celebrity Centre—44 years!”
Carson City Councilmember Mike Gipson spoke of his partnership with the Church using L. Ron Hubbard’s book The Way to Happiness to bring peace: “Together, we are changing the reality of our streets. After we held the Peace Ride in Carson, my city’s crime rate dropped in February. It dropped again in March, April, and then again in May, June and July. That’s not just Carson. Wherever the Peace Rides travel – crime comes down. To those who would say, ‘That’s just the way it is.’ No, my friend, that’s not so. Today there is a new way in South LA. And that is The Way to Happiness.”
In expressing his appreciation for community partnerships, Celebrity Centre Vice President Shane Woodruff said: “Therein is the crux of Scientology. In a word – help. It pervades every aspect of this Church. Moreover, help is the essence of what we celebrate this evening. So in that spirit, I would like to express our deep and abiding gratitude to those we work alongside in the common cause to build a better world. Our friends in the community, from law enforcement and government, from nonprofits and other faiths, fellow men and women of goodwill – tonight’s celebration is just as much yours as it is ours.”
The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre was founded in Los Angeles in 1969 to provide Scientology religious services to artists, politicians, industry leaders and sports figures, while delivering the same services and remaining open to all. Celebrity Centre International coordinates the activities of a network of Centres in world cultural capitals including New York, Nashville, and Las Vegas in the United States; and Paris, London, Vienna, and Florence, Italy in Europe.
An accomplished artist himself, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard long held that rekindling the artist spiritually enhances their creativity, restores high ethical standards and otherwise helps the artist. In fulfillment of Mr. Hubbard’s vision, the Celebrity Centre network provides creative individuals with a distraction-free environment where they may pursue Scientology spiritual counseling and courses.
The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 11,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 countries.