LINK Unlimited, Chicago’s oldest educational and mentoring organization, was founded in 1966, the same year Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Chicago and was greeted with great hostility and contempt. The hostile response to Dr. King’s hopeful message led John and Carolyn Parmer to search for their role in making Dr. King’s dream of equality and justice a reality.
The Parmer’s chose to mentor an African American child through four years of high school. The couple soon enlisted their friends to do the same. Today LINK continues the Parmer’s pursuit of civic justice by addressing the educational crisis of economically-disadvantaged African American youth in the Chicago area. LINK realizes the couple’s dream by providing access to a quality education at a private, college preparatory high school.
Since 1966, LINK Unlimited has successfully transitioned over 1,760 economically disadvantaged African American youth to college by providing one-on-one academic support through the high school years and beyond. LINK students have attended many top tier colleges, and have moved on to become successful in their own right, as business professionals, educators, engineers, architects, attorneys, doctors and more.
1966
While at Holy Angels parish on Chicago’s Southside, Fr. Tom Swade meets John & Carolyn Parmer who offer to pay the tuition of a student attending De La Salle High School. Richard Smith becomes the first LINK Unlimited scholar.
1968
The LINK Unlimited program grows to more than 20 students and the Loyola Academy summer school program begins.
1969
Janice Crockett and Audrey Pickens are the first female students admitted into LINK Unlimited.
The first college visit occurs at Lewis University.
1970
The First Annual Awards Banquet is held at the Como Inn.
1972
LINK expands its membership to include students from St. Dorothy’s.
1973
The 100th student is admitted into LINK Unlimited.
1974
LINK Unlimited, unofficially called Fr. Swade’s Scholarship Program, becomes a legal not-for-profit entity and scholar Randy McVane wins a contest to officially name the program LINK Unlimited.
The First Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award is given to John & Carolyn Parmer for their support of LINK Unlimited and their commitment to racial and social harmony.
1977
LINK expands its membership to include students from St, Clare and St. Cyril.
1985
LINK expands its membership to include students from the Westside of Chicago with students from Our Lady of the Westside and Resurrection.
1989
The new headquarters for LINK opens across the street from St. Dorothy’s at 7759 South Eberhart.
1992
Joseph Cardinal Bernadin presides over LINK Unlimited’s 25th Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Dorothy’s Church.
1994
LINK Unlimited hosts its First Annual Founders Day Golf Outing.
1996
LINK Summer School is divided into three locations: Fenwick High School (Oak Park) for rising freshman; Loyola Academy (Wilmette) for rising sophomores; and St. Dorothy’s for rising juniors.
LINK begins providing ACT Preparation for rising juniors during summer school.
2000
100% of the LINK Unlimited graduating seniors matriculate into college.
LINK celebrates its 1,000th Alum.
2002
LINK Unlimited launches a capital campaign to raise $7 million to establish an endowment and build a new centrally located headquarters.
LINK partners with American Field Services to expose its scholars to other countries and cultures.
2003
LINK expands its college readiness programming
2005
With the help of: the City of Chicago; Antunovich Associates; McCaffery Interests; W.E. O’Neil Construction Company; The John Buck Company; Walsh Construction; and Mayer Brown, LLP construction begins on LINK Unlimited’s new headquarters.
The First Annual DreamKeepers Awards Gala is held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, honoring Jacoby Dickens and John Gearen.
2006
The John Parmer Outstanding Leadership Award is established in memory of LINK Unlimited’s co-founder.
LINK Unlimited moves to its new centrally located headquarters at 2221 South State Street.
2009
LINK introduces new Leadership Development programming for students.
2010
LINK Unlimited serves 1,700th student.
2011
LINK adds a dedicated mentor relations support staff to enhance the mentor experience and ultimately improve scholar outcomes.
2012
LINK introduces a College Years Counselor position to extend guidance and support to LINK graduates throughout their challenging college experience.
For the 12th consecutive year, 100% of LINK graduates are admitted to and enrolled in 4-year colleges and universities. The Class of 2012 was also awarded $6.7 million in scholarship money over the next four years to make their dreams of college graduation a reality.