Care to Learn opens St. Louis-area chapters

Springfield-based nonprofit Care to Learn this month opened its first chapters in the St. Louis area.

Co-founder Doug met with representatives from the City of St. Charles, Warren County and Hazelwood school districts to establish the three new chapters, according to a news release.

In the St. Louis area, more than 50 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced lunches, an indicator of poverty. Care to Learn will work with service providers, businesses and community members in the areas to provide resources to the schools.

Started by Pitt in 2008 and supported by actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation and local businessman Jim D. Morris, the nonprofit provides health, hunger and hygiene supplies to school children, as well as transportation services. Now serving 16 Missouri school districts, Care to Learn has fulfilled over 350,000 requests since its inception, according to the release.

Pitt, who last year merged his Springfield-based ServiceWorld Computer Center with St. Charles-based TSI Technology Solutions Inc., has used the opportunity to expand Care to Learn to the region, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.