Photos by Diane Anderson

A benefit for Care to Learn was held last month at the Busch Family Estate at Grant’s Farm. The organization has been featured in our annual charity register, Sophisticated Giving. 

Care To Learn

Who We Are: In the fall of 2007, Doug Pitt heard some sobering statistics about poverty in Springfield, Missouri. The growing trend of poverty in his hometown was an unwelcome shock to Doug, who had lived and worked in the community his entire life. With close friends and family, Doug shared stories of children living in poverty who had to share a toothbrush, a fifth grade boy who was being made fun of because he had to wear his mother’s jeans and teenage girls missing school because of the lack of personal hygiene products. Others embraced his view that no child should suffer physically or emotionally due to lack of food, access to medical, dental or mental health care, or hygiene issues. A fund was established to meet the emergent needs of Springfield students in the areas of health, hunger and hygiene, and Care to Learn was born. Today, Care to Learn chapters are assisting under-resourced children in 32 school districts throughout Missouri. In St. Louis, chapters are serving students in Hazelwood, St. Charles, Warrenton and Wright City­­–– with additional chapters being planned.

What We Do: Care to Learn provides immediate funding to meet emergent health, hunger, and hygiene needs so every child can be successful in school. We provide the things that stand between children and belonging: basic unmet needs that cause pain and embarrassment – a toothbrush, a coat, deodorant, or breakfast.

Why We’re Important: For children throughout St. Louis, school isn’t just a place for learning. It’s a shelter...a kitchen...a refuge from suffering. For these kids, hygiene needs go unmet, meals are few, and clothes rarely fit. Distracted by hunger and limited by embarrassment, their education is an afterthought to survival. Care to Learn was created with these kids in mind.

How We Impact the Community: Well over half the students in our region attending public school participate in the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program, an indicator of poverty. For these students, Care to Learn is an incredible lifeline. The funds that Care to Learn receives from generous donors are used in a multitude of ways to help children in immediate need. One day, through Care to Learn, your donation may purchase food to feed a hungry child; the next it may be used to buy a warm coat tomorrow or for eyeglasses so a child can see the board. Care to Learn is also economically impacting our communities. Students who stay in school and graduate high school earn $10,000 more per year than a drop-out. And each high school drop out costs taxpayers an average of $292,000 in lost taxes and services provided. Your support helps ensure students stay in school and graduate.

How You Can Help: Care to Learn works with community partners and service providers to stretch the resources provided by our donors to serve the greatest number of students possible. We have dedicated teachers who support us through payroll deduction and retirees who have sent us a donation every month since we began. We have local businesses that sponsor our events and hard-working members of our community who just believe in our mission. And please don’t forget to include Care to Learn in your will or trust. Your contributions to Care to Learn will assure that our children have the resources they need to be successful in school.

Care to Learn

411 N. Sherman Parkway

Springfield, MO 65802

caretolearnfund.org

Facebook: Caretolearngreaterstlouis

Linda Ramey-Greiwe, Executive Director, 417.862.7771

Doug Pitt, Founder

Care to Learn Advisory Board Members:

Joe Buck, Lisa Carnahan, Jim Edmonds, Josh Ferguson, Bruce Gibbs, Jessica Herschend, Mike Kelley, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Chris Long, Kelly Metcalf, Don Musick, Steven J. Ponciroli, George Roman, Scott Rozier, Donn Sorenson, Heather Wood, Laura Chauvin, Linda Ramey-Greiwe, Doug Pitt

Charity listing sponsored by Donn Sorensen, Chair President, Mercy St. Louis