PEO Sisterhood Opens Up Opportunities For Women

By Susan Coney

Members of PEO, a philanthropic educational organization that brings women increased opportunities for higher education, work its magic much like Santa’s helpers, in a quiet, unobtrusive way. As Santa’s elves work feverishly throughout the year to provide toys for all the good girls and boys, members of the PEO Sisterhood work collectively to provide deserving women with a higher level of education.

Simply known as PEO, the organization was founded in 1869 by students on the campus of Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. When PEO began, 136 years ago as a college sorority, it was founded by seven young women who were passionate about women’s education. During this era keeping secrets was a common way to create strong bonds of friendship and to this day the true meaning of the acronym is only divulged to PEO members.

However, while keeping the literal meaning of PEO private, the members of the organization eagerly share with others the quiet work they do in creating powerful educational opportunities for women. Today, education continues to be the primary philanthropy of PEO as denoted by the promotion of five international projects designed to assist women.

To date more than 73,300 women have been recipients of grants, loans, and awards totaling $147 million given in financial assistance. A primary philanthropy of PEO is Cottey College, a two-year independent, liberal arts and sciences college for women, located in Nevada, Miss.

The college, currently owned and operated by PEO, was given to the organization by Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard who founded the college in 1884. Ms Stockard held a firm belief that women deserved the same quality education as men. Stockard realized that PEO paralleled her own goals and ideas regarding higher education for women.

Today there are more than 250,000 members in the United States and Canada who are active in 5,866 chapters. Connecticut has 1,200-plus members in 33 chapters throughout the state.

In addition to Cottey College, the PEO Sisterhood also maintains the PEO Educational Loan Fund, which lends money to worthy women students to assist them in securing a higher education. Since it was established in 1907 almost $99 million has been loaned to nearly 40,000 women.

The PEO International Peace Scholarship Fund was established in 1949 to provide scholarships for international students to pursue graduate study in the United States and Canada and to encourage peace through education and understanding.

The PEO Program for Continuing Education was established in 1973 to provide need-based grants to women in the United States and Canada whose education has been interrupted or who find it necessary to return to school to support themselves and or their families. This project has paid more than $24 million dollars in small grants to over 24,000 women.

PEO Scholar Awards are granted to provide substantial awards to women in the United States and Canada who are pursuing advanced degrees or are engaged in advanced study and research. Since its inception in 1991, 963 awards totaling more than $7 million have been given.

Grant, loan, and award recipients as well as Cottey College students need not be members of PEO. With the exception of international students who receive International Peace Scholarships, each recipient must be sponsored by a PEO chapter.

The group raises funds primarily through local chapter auctions in which members donate items to be auctioned off with the proceeds going to support the educational projects they sponsor.

Initiated into a PEO chapter in Kansas more than 40 years ago and a current member of a PEO group in nearby Ridgefield, Newtown resident Jeanne Smith divulges some of the wonderful opportunities the organization provides for women. She said that while promoting higher education for women is the main focus for the group’s work, the real rewards come from the exceptional bond that is created by joining the organization. “The fact that the group encourages personal growth makes it so rewarding. I went from a shy person to someone who doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut,” Ms Smith chuckled.

All Walks Of Life

PEO is comprised of women of all ages and from all walks of life. Membership is at the invitation of a chapter. Frequently daughters of members are invited to join after they turn 18. There are day meetings as well as evening ones to accommodate every schedule. Joining the organization is a lifelong commitment.

In a world of frequent corporate, military, and personal relocations, PEO provides a safe, familiar, almost immediate connection that makes moving to a new area much less stressful.

Diann McChesney, who is the president of a chapter Ridgefield, attested to the ways in which PEO has enhanced her life. “I was a military wife in Virginia and was talking with some women after church one day. That was when I was first introduced in to PEO, by another Navy wife. Being a member makes me so happy. They are such an accepting group of people who support and love you unconditionally. You don’t have to be self-conscious about making a mistake around them,” she shared.

Ms McChesney went on to add that as she her family relocated from one part of the country to another PEO was always there for her. “Each meeting is conducted in the exact same manner so no matter where you are in the country you begin to feel at home immediately. You have a set of women you can trust with your problems or just ask questions,” Ms McChesney said.

Ms McChesney shared a story about a woman she met through her chapter’s website. “I had a lady who contacted me through our website because she wanted to make a philanthropic donation to PEO in the memory of a loved one. We began to chat on line and she wanted more information about the organization. It turns out she is from my home state of Texas and she had just retired but felt she needed something more meaningful in her life. Although her original intent was to simply make a contribution she is now an active member of a PEO chapter in Texas,” McChesney said.

Ridgefield member Vicki Yoran has been an active member for 52 years. She was originally initiated in Illinois. “My mother was a longtime member of PEO. Of all the things that you get from your mom, my membership in PEO is what I treasure the most! Today my granddaughter is a fourth generation PEO,” she beamed.

All three women agreed that PEO serves newly relocated members with an exceptional resource of information regarding the local area, recommendations for doctors, repair services, as well as any other information may need.

In addition, PEO sisters appear in a moments notice when an emergency arises such as a serious illness or death in the family of a member, with hot meals prepared and a warm hug of support.

PEOs are a close-knit group of women who have the power to spread the message about their organization and its positive impact on women’s education. It is a strong network that focuses on family, the development of strong bonds of friendship, the nurturing and pursuit of personal growth, and the opportunity for higher learning.

For more information about PEO visit www.peointernational.org.