Gus was a creative; he loved anime and gaming. He had a talent for drawing and fashioning art out of simple materials—paper, wire, etc.  He loved children and took pleasure in spending time with his young cousins whenever they came around. Gus was born in the Ivory Coast during the Liberian war but spent three years of his life in Liberia when he was a teenager, even graduating from the Don Bosco Polytechnic High School. He made a lot of friends during that time and when he returned to the U.S., cherished fond memories of his time there—including riding the ‘pen-pen’. He loved the simplicity of life in Monrovia and expressed his desire to live there some day.

Our family has established the Augustus E. Richardson Memorial (ARM) Foundation to continue Gus’ legacy of love, friendship, and helping others in Liberia, a place he loved and where there is so much need. With the absence of safety net programs, and the extreme lack of economic opportunities, it is simply impossible for many parents to give their children basic human rights such as food, clothing, health care and education. As a result, many children (and families) have become extremely vulnerable citizens living on the margins of society. Many are growing without the cognitive tools to navigate society, and without the skills to become self-sustaining adults.