P.E.O.’ s
mission is to celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College; and motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations. The P.E.O. Sisterhood is a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 116,000 women* pursue educational goals by providing over $383 million* in educational assistance, making a difference in women’s lives through six philanthropies and a foundation: P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund (ELF) A loan fund established in 1907 to lend money to qualified women students to assist them in securing a higher education. Has loaned $229.5 million.* P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship fund (IPS) A fund established in 1949 to provide scholarships for international women students to pursue graduate study in the U.S. or Canada. Has provided $43.5 million in scholarships.* P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE) Established in 1973 to provide need-based grants to women in the U.S. or Canada whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to support themselves and/or their families. Has given $65.1 million in grants.* P.E.O. Scholar Awards (PSA) Established in 1991 to provide substantial merit-based awards for women of the U.S. and Canada who are pursuing a doctoral-level degree at an accredited college or university. Has awarded $30.1 million in scholarships.* P.E.O. STAR Scholarship (STAR) Established in 2009 to provide scholarships for exceptional high school senior women to attend an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the U.S. or Canada in the next academic year. Has given $14.9 million in scholarships.* Cottey College A nationally ranked, fully accredited, independent, liberal arts and sciences college for women located in Nevada, Missouri, has been owned/supported by P.E.O. since 1927 and offers baccalaureate and associate degrees in a variety of majors. Cottey College, a debt-free institution, welcomes women from around the world. The P.E.O. Foundation is a nonprofit corporation established in 1961 to encourage tax-deductible giving to the educational and charitable projects of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. It is a service to the Sisterhood.
“We are a sisterhood of women who understand the importance of caring and nurturing each other, which creates a bond of love for who we are and what we do. And our unity of purpose—our P.E.O. projects—keeps us focused on the mission of funding and finding recipients for these projects.” —DEVON GEDNEY AR, WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA • • • • • “As an IPS recipient, I loved the Sisterhood. I felt loved and protected in a foreign land. I felt at home far from home.” —SHILLA ADYERO 2014-2015 P.E.O. INTERNATIONAL PEACE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT FROM UGANDA
Individual donors may make tax-deductible gifts to the projects or through the P.E.O. Foundation. Visit www.peointernational.org . Look for the “Giving Opportunities” link on the home page.
*As of April 2021
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THE P.E.O. RECORD | January–February 2022
Women helping women reach for the stars
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