Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
January 30, 2026

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

Original Source

TLDR

  • This initiative offers sponsors a strategic opportunity to invest in future leaders by providing Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson's book to HBCU students, building brand association with purpose-driven education.
  • The initiative distributes Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson's book 'Never Lost' to over 300,000 HBCU students through bulk sponsorships coordinated by Wharton Curtis Press to foster leadership during formative college years.
  • Placing 'Never Lost' in HBCU students' hands provides historical grounding and a framework for thoughtful leadership, equipping emerging leaders with perspective to shape a better future.
  • A new national initiative aims to give every HBCU student a copy of 'Never Lost', a book exploring how faith and community sustain people through change.

Impact - Why it Matters

This initiative matters because it represents a strategic investment in the moral and intellectual formation of future leaders at a critical juncture. HBCUs have historically served as engines of social mobility and leadership development for Black communities, producing many of the nation's most influential professionals, activists, and thinkers. By providing a resource that explores enduring values during students' formative college years, the program addresses a need for grounding in principles that can guide decision-making amid societal uncertainty. For readers, this highlights how supporting educational empowerment can have ripple effects—equipping students with perspective and purpose today can lead to more ethical, community-focused leadership tomorrow, benefiting society broadly. It also underscores the ongoing importance of HBCUs as vital institutions for nurturing talent and character.

Summary

A transformative national initiative is launching with an ambitious goal: to place a copy of the book Never Lost into the hands of every student attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) across America. Authored by the esteemed Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church and Chair of the Conference of National Black Churches, the book explores how faith, community, and moral responsibility have sustained generations through periods of challenge and change. The initiative, spearheaded by the publisher Wharton Curtis Press, is driven by the conviction that college years represent a critical formative season where students shape their identity, purpose, and sense of responsibility. By providing this resource, the program aims to offer historical grounding and a framework for thoughtful leadership before students' perspectives solidify.

The campaign directly addresses over 300,000 HBCU students nationwide, seeking to equip them with perspective and hope as they prepare to become future leaders. It operates through a sponsorship model, inviting individuals, families, corporations, foundations, and institutions to contribute through bulk purchases, with each sponsored copy representing an investment in a student's development and the communities they will eventually serve. The vision is national in scope but personal in impact, focusing on providing formative resources during a pivotal time. Never Lost is set for release on February 3, 2026, and is currently available for preorder at NeverLostBook.com, which serves as the central hub for the book. Those interested in supporting the HBCU initiative can contact Wharton Curtis Press via email at publishing@whartoncurtispress.com or by phone.

Wharton Curtis Press, an imprint of The Church Online, LLC, is dedicated to publishing works of faith, culture, and purpose, bringing decades of publishing experience to this endeavor. Dr. Richardson's extensive background in faith-rooted leadership and justice, through roles including his pastoral ministry and leadership with the National Action Network, informs the book's message. This initiative underscores the importance of intentional investment in emerging leaders during their educational journey, positioning Never Lost as a tool for empowerment and reflection. By focusing on HBCUs—institutions with profound historical and cultural significance—the program highlights the ongoing relevance of values-based education in shaping a more thoughtful and responsible generation of leaders.

Source Statement

This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, National Initiative Aims to Give 'Never Lost' to Every HBCU Student

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