LINK Unlimited Scholars’ sells out 7th Annual Private Equity Luncheon with NFLPA’s DeMaurice Smi

CHICAGO - June 25, 2014 - PRLog -- (CHICAGO) -- Leaders in Chicago’s private equity community united to raise over $110,000 for economically disadvantaged African American youth at the 7^th Annual LINK Unlimited (http://www.linkunlimited.org) Scholars Private Equity Luncheon at the offices of Winston and Strawn on June 9^th.    The group hosted DeMaurice Fitzgerald Smith, Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association, (NFLPA) to a packed house.  The funds raised support the goals of LINK Unlimited Scholars, which includes providing a high quality education to disadvantaged African American youth to the private high school of their choice, readying the scholars for college, offering opportunities for leadership development, ensuring personal development and encouraging interracial harmony.

“DeMaurice shared some wonderful insights into the work he is doing with the outstanding athletes of the NFL,” said Virgil Jones, President of LINK Unlimited Scholars.  "Most of all he shared his support for young African American students and the doors that education can open for them."  Moderating the discussion was Roger Crockett, president of R.O. Crockett Leadership Advisory.

The LINK Unlimited approach to education includes matching each incoming student with a mentor for their four years of high school. Mentors, who include experienced professionals from almost every industry, make a commitment to contribute financially to the scholar’s private school tuition and are expected to be a role model and friend to the scholar.  They track the scholar’s progress and provide learning insights and opportunities that support their education. More than half the LINK Unlimited scholars come from homes with annual incomes of less than $40,000. Approximately 70% of the scholars are from single parent homes with a female head of household and the majority of scholars are the first generation in their family to attend college.  Since its inception in 1966, more than 1,900 scholars have received scholarships and mentor support.For the last 14 years, 100% of LINK Unlimited scholars have been accepted into selective four year colleges and universities including Harvard University, Washington University, Vanderbilt University, University of IL, Urbana-Champaign, Pomona, University of Notre Dame, Howard University, Colgate University, Hamilton College and Knox College.

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Michael Reid, Link Scholar 2014 accepted to Harvard University, and Fuad Akinbiyi, LINK Scholar 2011 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with DeMaurice Smith

ABOUT LINK Unlimited:

The LINK Unlimited Scholars mission is to provide educational college preparatory opportunities for economically disadvantaged African American high school youth.  LINK Unlimited integrates mentoring relationships, service initiatives and spiritual principles to foster academic success, personal development and interracial understanding and harmony.  The LINK Unlimited Scholars approach provides a rigorous support system built to develop and hone the academic and interpersonal skills necessary for admission to top tier colleges and universities, and ultimately, college graduation and a lifetime of success.  Since 1966, LINK Unlimited Scholars has successfully supported over 1,900 scholars.  The number one goal at LINK Unlimited Scholars is to provide every opportunity that will afford the scholars a concrete blueprint by which they can confidently and successfully change the trajectory of their lives

www.linkunlimited.org