Learning Links Centers®, LLC, a socially responsible real estate investment company has partnered with ESmith Legacy, Inc., a leading commercial real estate and development company founded by NFL legend Emmitt Smith and others. The initial two-year goal of this landmark collaboration is to acquire more than $250 million in large workforce housing properties (100+ units) throughout major U.S. metropolitan markets. The partnership has opened escrow on its first building together in North Dallas - a 326 unit development in need of refurbishment and reletting - and will keep its initial focus on the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The partnership will also pursue opportunities in other major metropolitan cities throughout the U.S. including but not limited to Los Angeles, Washington/Baltimore metro area, New York Tri-State area, Atlanta, the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. The joint announcement was made today by real estate entrepreneurs and Learning Links Centers co-founders Joe Killinger and George Pino and Emmitt Smith, Co-Founder, Co-Chairman and CEO of ESmith Legacy, Inc.

"We are excited to be partnering with ESmith Legacy as we continue to expand Learning Links Centers' socially responsible investment platform nationwide," said Killinger. "They share our strong commitment to the belief that doing well and doing good can go hand-in-hand. Emmitt Smith and his team at ESmith Legacy are valuable partners because of the depth of experience and network of resource they can bring to bear."

"It is great to team up with the people at Learning Links Centers. They share my desire to give back to Dallas communities and to expand this powerful and innovative program to other cities nationwide," said Smith.

In addition to two properties in Dallas, Learning Links Centers currently owns and operates five buildings in Los Angeles, California. The groundbreaking business utilizes Killinger and Pino's expertise in the real estate business, to acquire, refurbish and manage apartment buildings in targeted neighborhoods, with the goal to help build better communities and living environments while addressing the educational needs of disadvantaged children.

Setting aside a few of the residential units for accredited school teachers, Learning Links Centers converts a community room in the development to serve as a Resource Center, equipped with computers, Internet service, educational software, books and games. In exchange for a reduction in rent, the school teachers provide free after-school tutoring to the resident children. The Resource Centers offer school age children a nurturing environment away from negative influences where the children receive valuable individual attention and mentoring.

ABOUT LEARNING LINKS CENTERS
Founded in 2002 and based in Los Angeles with offices in Dallas, Learning Links Centers®, LLC is a socially responsible real estate investment firm dedicated to improving communities by providing a safe environment, educational resources, life enrichment activities and scholarships for their resident children. With the added incentive of educational opportunities, the buildings become desirable destinations for renters which minimizes vacancy, turn-over, missed rent payments and maintenance problems, thereby helping to improve community standards and generate strong returns for investors. Learning Links is a revolutionary pioneer with the only socially responsible operational strategy of its kind in the real estate industry.

Concurrently, the non-profit Education Advantage Foundation (EAF) was founded to oversee the educational and mentoring programs. Working in conjunction with Learning Links Centers, EAF organizes, promotes, supervises and raises funds for the Resource Centers, nocost after-school tutoring, mentoring, scholarships and life-enrichment events for the children involved in the program. Under the guidance and supervision of the teachers living in the buildings, at a heavily discounted rent, the Resource Centers are used to assist the students with homework tasks, tutoring and mentoring. Students participating in programs range from kindergarten to the 12th grade.

Additional information on Learning Links Centers®, a limited liability company, and Education Advantage Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization, can be found at the following links: www.learninglinkscenters.com and www.educationadvantage.org.

ABOUT ESMITH LEGACY
ESmith Legacy, Inc. is a premier real estate development and asset management firm that brings together a team of professionals with the expertise and capacity to produce superior results. With offices in Baltimore, Dallas, and Philadelphia, ESmith Legacy, Inc. is a 100% minority and woman-owned development firm that builds on years of combined development, finance, and management experience with a network of joint venture partners.

The Company is well-positioned to handle the most complex projects and our diverse backgrounds provide depth and vertical solutions to each and every opportunity we pursue. Combining our collective experience in the fields of real estate development, master planning, asset disposition, banking and finance, law, real estate brokerage, franchise development and operations, the principals of ESmith Legacy, Inc. develop, build and own mixed-use commercial, industrial and residential projects working closely with public and private partners.

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