The Bolles School recently accepted a challenge made by student Taylor Richardson ’22 to receive and share copies of Fredrick Joseph’s book, “The Black Friend.”  

Richardson, a inclusion and diversity in STEM advocate, organized the #BlackFriendChallenge campaign this winter via GoFundMe to raise money for the purchase and distribution of the book to libraries and young readers around the world. She raised more than $22,000 and was able to purchase and donate 1,100 books. An additional 700 books were donated via her wish list from Amazon, according to a February 14 update on her page.

The Bolles community received several books February 16 to complement the existing selection on the Swisher Library shelves, as well as 100 additional books from the author that will be distributed to members of the Bolles community this school year.

To date and because of Richardson’s campaign efforts, many prominent organizations now have the book including: 40 U.S. embassies, the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, the Jessie DuPont Foundation, the United Way of Northeast Florida, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Jacksonville, Jax Thrive, all Jacksonville City Council members and 30 states. She also sent one copy to Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Giving Alliance and Florida Blue leaders in her bid to get the book in every public school library in Jacksonville.