Since the founding of the first Church of Scientology in 1954, Scientologists have been actively involved in the improvement of their communities and society.

The Scientology Church has received thousands of awards and commendations for its work in communities all over the world. Many of these awards have come from city and county authorities; others from individuals and groups who appreciated a helping hand. Awards are always valued, but they are incidental to the intention and the deed they symbolize. Scientologists help because as they grow spiritually as individuals, it is natural to expand their responsibility and turn outward to help others.

Church members are active in anti-drug educational campaigns in countries throughout the world and have given drug abuse education lectures to more than 500,000 people. Scientologists in Germany, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Italy and the United Kingdom also lead success popular “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life” campaigns.

Top athletes, including Philips, Italy’s most famous volleyball team, and the legendary Spanish football team Real Madrid, have given their support to this campaign by signing the “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life” Honor Roll. Scientologists in Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain and other European countries have organized concerts, marches and other events to promote the Church’s anti-drug message and have reached hundreds of thousands.

In Denmark, the “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life,” association has been educating members of Parliament, city officials, police chiefs and other community leaders on the dangers of drug use—particularly the liabilities of methadone. In Germany, which also faces a methadone problem of frightening proportions, Scientologists in Hamburg published a brochure which described the destructiveness of methadone “therapy,” distributing more than 50,000 copies of it throughout the city. In Italy, church volunteers lead regular citywide drives to round up and safely dispose of used hypodermic syringes, discarded in public parks by addicts—potentially lethal hazards.

The “Lead the Way to a Drug-Free USA” national campaign in the United States has helped millions by fighting further drug proliferation. This campaign includes the Church’s Drug-Free Marshals—school-age children who pledge to stay off drugs and to keep their friends and family off drugs. They are “sworn in” as Drug-Free Marshals and participate in projects to promote drug-free communities, including swearing in adults as fellow Drug-Free Marshals.

Children in many other countries have adopted the “Drug-Free Marshals” campaign, adapting the name for their group according to their own choice. In Australia, “Drug-Free Ambassadors” have taken on projects such as painting murals with anti-drug messages in prominent city locations. In Spain, “Drugbusters” have formed a soccer team which promotes the benefit of keeping the world of sport drug-free. Similar groups are active in Canada, South Africa, Mexico and other countries around the world.

Scientologists also engage in many other community betterment activities. They are involved in Neighborhood Watch anti-crime programs and programs to assist law enforcement officials reduce crime. Scientologists regularly hold blood drives and get donations of blood for hospitals, the Red Cross and other similar organizations. As Scientologists do not use harmful drugs, these donations of drug-free blood are welcomed by those in charge of health care. Scientologists regularly hold drives for donations of toys, food and clothing to make life happier for those in need.