P.E.O. Sisterhood International Chapter

The P.E.O. Sisterhood International Chapter is a part of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.), an international women's organization primarily focused on offering educational opportunities to female students worldwide.

History

The P.E.O. Sisterhood was originally founded on January 21, 1869, at Iowa Wesleyan University as a collegiate sorority by seven students: Mary Allen Stafford, Ella Stewart, Alice Bird Babb, Hattie Briggs Bousquet, Franc Roads Elliott, Alice Virginia Coffin, and Suela Pearson Penfield[1]. The organization evolved from its early roots as a campus-based group to a community-driven entity with chapters across the United States and Canada.

Mission and Programs

The mission of the P.E.O. Sisterhood is to support women's education through various projects. Key initiatives include:

• P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund (ELF): Provides loans to qualified women pursuing higher education.
• P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS): Awards scholarships to international women for graduate studies in the U.S. and Canada.
• P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE): Offers grants to women resuming their education after an interruption.
• P.E.O. Scholar Awards (PSA): Recognizes women pursuing doctoral degrees with substantial merit-based awards.
• Cottey College: A fully accredited liberal arts and sciences college for women, owned and operated by P.E.O. since 1927.

Membership and Structure

Membership in P.E.O. is by invitation and is open to women who share the organization's goals. It has over 197,000 members in more than 5,600 chapters across the U.S. and Canada[1]. The organization is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.

Impact

The P.E.O. Sisterhood plays a significant role in promoting women's education globally through its philanthropic activities. The organization's commitment to supporting women's advancement has made it a leading entity in women's educational initiatives.