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Doug Pitt

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Pitt in 2024.
Pitt in 2024.

Douglas Mitchell Pitt (born November 2, 1966) is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He holds the title of Goodwill Ambassador for the United Republic of Tanzania, a position he has held since April 2010. Pitt is also the founder of Care to Learn, a charitable organization based in the United States.

Early life and education

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Pitt was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Jane Etta (née Hillhouse), a school counselor, and William Alvin Pitt, who worked in the trucking and real estate industries. He is the younger brother of actor Brad Pitt.[1]

Pitt graduated from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, and earned a degree from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) in 1990.[2] He was inducted into the Springfield Public Schools (SPS) Hall of Fame in 2011[3][4] and into the university's alumni Hall of Fame in 2019.[5]

Career

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Business

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In 1991, Pitt founded ServiceWorld Computer Center. In November 2007, he sold a 75% interest in the company to Miami Nations Enterprises, but continued to be an owner and principal operational partner.[6] The company was named the SBJ Philanthropic Business of the Year in 2010.[7]

In 2012, Pitt co-founded TSI Integrated Services, in partnership with TSI Global, a St. Louis-based company.[8] In 2017, he repurchased his computer company, which was reorganized as Pitt Technology Group.[9][10] In 2018, Pitt Technology Group acquired ConceptiCode,[11] a software development company, and in 2019, it acquired AVMAN, an audiovisual consulting company.[11]

In 2013, Pitt opened an Innovation and Business Incubation Center in Ozark, Missouri, in partnership with the Ozark Chamber of Commerce.[12] He joined the Board of Directors of Great Southern Bank in 2015.[13] He is also involved in real estate investment through Pitt Development Group.[14]

Pitt became a spokesperson for Virgin Mobile Australia, where he portrayed a comedic version of his brother, Brad Pitt, as "The Second Most Famous Pitt."[15] In 2019, he starred in an ad for Mother's Brewing Company titled 6ix, a reference to the film Seven, with proceeds from the campaign benefiting the charity Care to Learn.[16]

Philanthropy

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Pitt has served on several boards since 1995, including Big Brothers Big Sisters,[5] Make A Wish, Easter Seals, and the Red Cross. He has also chaired the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce[17] and been involved in various community task forces, including co-chairing the Springfield Homeless Task Force in 2010[18] and the Early Childhood Committee for the Every Child Promise in 2013.[19]

Pitt has been an Executive Consultant for Enactus since 2011[20] and was named to the advisory council of The ONE Organization of Missouri in 2013.[5]

Care to Learn

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In 2007, Pitt became aware of the challenges facing children in Southwest Missouri, particularly those living in poverty. One story that motivated him was about a fifth-grade student who was bullied for wearing his mother's jeans to school.[21] In response, he founded Care to Learn in August 2008, a charitable organization focused on addressing children's immediate health, hunger, and hygiene needs to support their academic success. By 2023, the organization had helped over 3 million people through donations of money and goods.[1][22][23][24][25]

Projects in Africa

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In July 2010, Pitt was appointed as the first-ever Goodwill Ambassador for the United Republic of Tanzania by President Jakaya Kikwete in a ceremony held in New York City.[26][27]

Public speaking and advocacy

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Pitt is a member of the Missouri Advisory Committee of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.[28] In 2023, he participated in a panel discussion at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference titled Climate Change: A Matter of National Security, where he discussed the effects of drought in East Africa and the work of WorldServe International in the clean water space.[29]

Personal life

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Pitt is married to Lisa and they have three children: Landon, Sydney, and Reagan.[30][1]

In 2011, he became the first American to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and descend by mountain bike.[31][32]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Trujillo, Jovita (6 September 2024). "Meet Brad Pitt's Succesful Younger Brother Doug Pitt". ¡Hola!. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  2. ^ Blomquist, Jordan; JoLliff, Jo; Mecke, Peyson; Pollock Estes, Katie; Shorr-McKee, Taryn (November 2024). "Meet Biz 417's 2024 Biz 100". The Magazine for Business in the Ozarks. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Alumni | Class of 2011". Springfield Public Schools (Missouri). Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  4. ^ "SPS makes Hall of Fame inductions". Springfield Business Journal. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Doug Pitt - Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame - Public Affairs - Missouri State". Missouri State University. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  6. ^ Wagner, Matt (6 January 2008). "ServiceWorld owner sells off majority share". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  7. ^ Peterson, Jan (27 July 2010). "Philanthropic Business of the Year Winner: ServiceWorld Computer Center LLC". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  8. ^ Brown, Brian (16 September 2013). "ServiceWorld changes name after TSI merger". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  9. ^ Pickle, Geoff (18 October 2017). "Pitt buys back Springfield operations from TSI". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  10. ^ Pickle, Geoff (27 September 2024). "Pitt Technology Group expands ownership". Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Pitt Technology Group pens 2 local acquisitions". Springfield Business Journal. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  12. ^ Olson, Eric (24 July 2013). "Ozark chamber to launch business incubator". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Doug Pitt joins Great Southern Bank board". Springfield Business Journal. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  14. ^ Cullinan, Mike (12 November 2018). "Businessman Pitt quietly developing Mercy clinics". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  15. ^ Stampler, Laura (2 July 2012). "Meet Brad Pitt's Younger Brother Doug, Virgin Mobile Australia's Newest Spokesman". Business Insider. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  16. ^ "6ix". Mother's Brewing Company. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2025 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Pokin, Steve. "Doug Pitt: Not easy to know but 'the guy who will step in'". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  18. ^ "More than 450 young people between the ages of 11 and 22 are homeless in Springfield". Southeast Missourian. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  19. ^ Riley, Claudette. "The work begins for the Every Child Promise". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  20. ^ Donica, Adrienne; Greenberg, Evan; Marthis, Rose; Porter, Claire; Stone, Lillian (November 2018). "Biz 100: The Top Business Leaders in Southwest Missouri". The Magazine for Business in the Ozarks. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  21. ^ "Group takes on challenges of poverty in schools". The Sentinel-Record. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2025 – via PressReader.
  22. ^ Rehwald, Jackie. "Care to Learn celebrates 10 years, names new executive director". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  23. ^ Hadsall, Joe (21 September 2023). "Care to Learn celebrates a 3 million milestone of meeting needs". Springfield Daily Citizen. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  24. ^ Curran, Maura (27 December 2023). "Care to Learn hits milestone of 3M needs met". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  25. ^ Letterman, Emily (5 January 2017). "Care to Learn restructures board". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  26. ^ Baer, James (14 October 2012). "Springfield's Doug Pitt: A Goodwill Ambassador to the People of Tanzania". Patch Media. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  27. ^ Hendrickson, V.L. (16 April 2019). "Doug Pitt and WorldServe Bring Sustainable Water Wells to Tanzania". Barron's. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  28. ^ "Missouri Advisory Committee" (PDF). U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  29. ^ "SXSW 2023 Schedule". U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  30. ^ Amberg, Lucie (January 2023). "Doug Pitt and What We Can Do When We Cate to Learn". The Magazine for Business in the Ozarks. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  31. ^ Cooperman, Jeannette (19 December 2014). "How Doug Pitt Stepped Out of His Brother's Shadow". St. Louis Magazine. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  32. ^ "Missions Accomplished. About the Mt. Kili Climb". 7 Summits Club. 5 February 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
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