Clearwater Celebrates First Anniversary of Downtown Humanitarian Centers with Block Party

To celebrate a year of community collaboration, nearly three thousand people gathered on Clearwater’s Cleveland Street on 16 July 2016 for a family-friendly Block Party. The event was sponsored by the Church of Scientology and was held in celebration of the first anniversary of the opening of centers dedicated to the Church-supported humanitarian programs. Non-profits that have partnered with the Church over the past year also participated.

The festivities went from 5:00-9:00pm with guests passing through, enjoying the many activities.

“It was just over a year ago that the Church of Scientology opened these humanitarian and information centers,” said Pat Harney, head of Public Affairs for the Church of Scientology. “Each of the centers help address a specific societal ill. The help these centers provide are available to any individual or group.”

Partnerships with charitable groups have been formed over the last year. Many of these non-profits had booths at the block party to inform the community about their mission.

The participating non-profits for the Block Party were: Brothers United Building Brothers Alliance (BUBBA), Building Bridges, Donation Station, Feeding Children Everywhere, Hard2Guard, Miracles Outreach, My Hope Chest, Fancy Paws, the Red Cross, Sickle Cell Disease Association, Team Florida and the Veteran’s Health Network.

One of the non-profit volunteers said, “We were able to connect with someone who really needs the help our charity provides. Because we were here at this event, they will be helped. Thank you very much!”

Since the centers opened last year, some 60,000 visitors have come through the doors to learn about these programs. In terms of community outreach, over 152,000 human rights educational booklets, 281,000 drug education booklets and 200,000 copies of the non-religious common-sense moral code, The Way to Happiness, have been distributed.

Activities included live music, a magician, food from some of the area’s most popular food trucks and downtown Clearwater restaurants, a bouncy house, gyroscope, train, face painting and raffle prizes. The raffle items included gift certificates donated by downtown stores and restaurants and a $500 VISA gift card.

In addition to the fun, guests were able to learn about the humanitarian initiatives supported by Scientologists the world over:

• United for Human Rights — implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at local, regional, national and international levels.
• The Way to Happiness Foundation — restoring trust and honesty the world over based on “The Way to Happiness” written by L. Ron Hubbard.
• Foundation for a Drug Free World — empowering youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live drug-free.
• Criminon — addressing the causes of criminality and restoring the criminal’s self-respect.
• Scientology Volunteer Ministers — a global force of volunteers, who live by the motto “Something can be done about it”.
• Citizens Commission on Human Rights — helping to enact more than 150 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive psychiatric practices. 

“It was great seeing everyone come together this weekend,” said Ms. Harney. “People from all parts of the Tampa Bay Area came to see how they are part of a community that’s making a difference.”