Helping Those Who Help: Ready‑for‑Action New Home Opens for Clearwater Community Volunteers

CLEARWATER, Fla., March 29, 2018 -- At exactly 1:30 pm on March 24, 2018, the Clearwater Community Volunteers (CCV), supported by the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, cut the ribbon on the new Clearwater Community Volunteers Center in Downtown Clearwater. The site of the opening ceremony was packed with more than 500 onlookers including representatives from other local non-profit organizations.

On March 24th public relations staff of the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization and Clearwater Community Volunteers (CCV) cut the ribbon on the new CCV Center in Downtown Clearwater, Florida.

This was the day for the Clearwater Community Volunteers—civic-minded Scientologists who, more than 25 years ago, banded together to help and serve the Tampa Bay community—to dedicate a home of their very own. A home that is not just for CCV, but for all local charities and non-profits dedicated to improving life for children and families in the area.

The ribbon cutting was held on the threshold of the center, as key members of the Church of Scientology and CCV stood between two satin bows behind a draping blue ribbon.

“It is our honor to have many of our partners here with us to celebrate more than four decades of community support from the Church of Scientology and the Clearwater Community Volunteers,” said Lisa Mansell, Public Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization. “And so, we dedicate this building on behalf of all volunteers, charities and non-profits throughout this community.”

As the ribbon fell, the guests flooded into the Center to tour the new facilities. In addition to serving as the headquarters for the Clearwater Community Volunteers, the CCV center was built to provide access to computers, a conference room and a multi-purpose room for meetings and events with ample space to network and collaborate with others—at no cost for local charities.

“Giving ‘a little help’—or a lot—where it’s needed is something the Clearwater Community Volunteers live by,” said Clemence Chevrot, the Director of the Center. “Since 1994 the Clearwater Community Volunteers has served more than 150,000 children and families, delivered over 50 tons of food and toys to the homeless and children of Tampa Bay, and so much more,” she said.

Another group that will benefit from the opening is the Tampa Bay Charity Coalition. Formed by the Church to facilitate and coordinate efforts by local non-profits, the Coalition has grown from just 38 non-profits at their first meeting in September 2014 to more than 200 strong in 2018.

At a special meeting of the Charity Coalition held just 30 minutes after the CCV Center opening, community leaders joined the Church in dedicating the new facility: Rev. Joel R. Lewis, pastor of Out of Our Heart Ministries, which is dedicated to creating unity among people of all faiths; Karena Morrison, founder and CEO of the non-profit Shop Local for Good, which encourages locally owned businesses to partner with area charities; and Neil Brickfield, executive director of the Pinellas Sheriff’s Police Athletic League, a community program providing tutoring, mentoring and sports activities for youth.

For more information about the CCV Center or to use it for your non-profit’s activities, contact Michael Soltero at (727) 316-5309 or [email protected].

About the Church of Scientology:

The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and has expanded to more than 11,000 churches, missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 nations. Based on L. Ron Hubbard's words, "A community that pulls together can make a better society for all," the Church of Scientology regularly engages in many humanitarian programs and community events. To learn more, visit www.scientology-fso.org.

Dylan Pires
(727) 467-6860

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a357948-0a4b-4d36-beb0-231a23d96180