We're beyond proud to announce the promotion of Melissa Rea to the role of Vice President of Chapter Services, effective January 2026.
In this new position, Melissa will work directly with superintendents and implement strategies to grow Chapter reach and ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of each school district partnership.
Melissa joined the Care to Learn team in August 2017, serving in multiple roles, including Springfield Chapter Services Specialist, Clothing Closet Coordinator, Springfield Chapter Services Coordinator, and Director of Chapter Services.
Under her leadership, the Care to Learn Closet Program, an initiative to provide on-site closets full of clothing staples and hygiene products for students, has grown immensely and is now available at every Springfield Public Schools site, serving as a model for other closet programs across the state.
Melissa graduated from Missouri State University and remains passionately involved in her community. She served as president of Queen City Sertoma and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield. She was awarded Club and District "Sertoman of the Year" in 2015, and in 2023, Springfield Business Journal recognized her as one of the community's "40 Under 40."
Care to Learn’s mission is to meet children’s emergent health, hunger, and hygiene needs so they can succeed in school. Since 2008, Care to Learn has celebrated more than 4.5+ million Missouri student success stories. The nonprofit is headquartered in Springfield, Mo., and partners with 45+ school districts across Missouri. To learn more, visit www.caretolearn.org.
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