A happy and surprised Mo Mclearly of Auckland last week opened his mail to find a $1,500 check and a letter from actor Tom Cruise.

Mclearly, volunteer coordinator of “Drug-Free Ambassadors,” a drug-education and prevention group active in New Zealand for three years, received a letter from the actor, in New Zealand shooting a film, saying he was inspired by reading about the group’s dedication to educating young people about drugs.

We are absolutely thrilled,” said Mclearly, who will spend the money reprinting thousands of copies of informational booklets about marijuana and ecstasy.

The booklets are very factual, very straightforward, no scare tactics and no preaching,” said Mclearly. “We believe that if young people get the facts about the harmful effects of drugs to balance all the pro-drug propaganda they hear, they will often decide for themselves to be drug-free.”

Young people sign the Drug-Free pledge, receive a certificate and then take responsibility for encouraging their friends to be drug-free, too.

In addition to distributing the booklets to night clubs, police stations and offices of physicians and dentists, Drug-Free Ambassadors® ask young people to sign a pledge to be drug-free and encourage others to do the same, and then receive a badge after being “sworn in” as a Drug-Free Ambassador.

The Drug-Free Ambassadors program (called Drug-Free Marshals in the United States) is sponsored by the Church of Scientology International and local Scientology churches around the world. Launched 10 years ago this month by actor John Travolta and an FBI agent, more than 3 million individuals in 153 countries have become Drug-Free Ambassadors. The churches’ drug-education and drug-prevention programs have reached more than 200 million people internationally.

1. Living a drug-free life

2. Showing my friends that a drug-free life is more fun

3. Helping my fellow Drug-Free Marshals

4. Learning more about how drugs really harm people

5. Telling people the truth about the harmful effects of drugs

6. Helping my family and friends be drug-free

7. Setting a good example to all children by leading the way to a Drug-Free community.