Education Website: LINK Unlimited

Through LINK Unlimited, academically talented but financially needy black youth in the Chicago area can receive a private school education. Founded in 1966, LINK also provides academic enrichment and college readiness programs to help ensure high school graduation and enrollment in a four-year college or university.

Upon entering the LINK program as a high school frosh, each student is matched with a sponsor/mentor. Sponsors contribute toward the cost of private secondary education and agree to be a motivator and advisor to a student as they grow and develop throughout their four years of high school.

LINK students consistently perform above the local and national averages for black American students. Since 2000, all LINK graduating seniors have enrolled in four-year colleges and universities. LINK students have been accepted into such institutions as MIT, Williams College, Vanderbilt University, Northwestern University, Princeton University, Spellman College, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Chicago.

Disclosure: earlier this year, I interviewed for a position at LINK Unlimited. If you know a Chicagoland kid who could benefit from this program, LINK is taking applications through December 8. I know that a substantial percentage of LINK students - if not the majority - are from immigrant families, so heads up to my fellow native black Americans to step it up. Spread the word.