National Initiative Aims to Distribute 'Never Lost' to Every HBCU Student

The launch of a national initiative aims to place a copy of the book Never Lost into the hands of every student attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the United States. Authored by Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, the book examines how faith, community, and moral responsibility have sustained people through generations of challenge and change. The initiative is rooted in the conviction that college years represent a critical season when students shape their understanding of identity, purpose, and responsibility.

By distributing Never Lost during this formative time, the initiative seeks to provide historical grounding and a framework for thoughtful leadership before habits harden and before history feels distant or abstract. The book reflects on how shared values are formed, carried forward, and lived out, especially during seasons marked by uncertainty and transition. The vision is national in scope but deeply personal in its outcome, aiming to equip students with perspective, purpose, and hope as they prepare to shape the future.

The initiative invites individuals, families, corporations, foundations, and institutions to participate through bulk sponsorships, with each contribution directly supporting the distribution of books to HBCU campuses nationwide. Every sponsored copy represents an investment in a student's future and, by extension, in the communities those students will one day serve. Supporters are encouraged to recognize the long-term impact of placing formative resources into the hands of emerging leaders.

Never Lost, set for release on February 3, 2026, from Wharton Curtis Press, is currently available for preorder at https://NeverLostBook.com. The initiative matters because it addresses a crucial gap in leadership development during the college experience, particularly at institutions that have historically served as incubators for Black leadership in America. By providing access to resources that explore faith, community, and moral responsibility, the program strengthens the intellectual and ethical foundation of students who will soon enter positions of influence across various sectors.

The implications extend beyond individual students to the broader communities they will serve, potentially shaping a generation of leaders with deeper historical consciousness and stronger ethical frameworks. This distribution effort represents a strategic investment in leadership development at a time when many institutions are reevaluating their approaches to character education and civic engagement. The initiative's focus on HBCUs recognizes the unique role these institutions play in developing leaders who understand both historical context and contemporary challenges.