About P.E.O. and P.E.O. Chapter B Connecticut

A bond of friendship among seven women in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1869 developed into a small club that grew into an international organization with 225, 000 members in 6,000 chapters around the globe known as P. E. O.   P.E.O.’s (Philanthropic Education Organization) goal is to provide women of all ages with financial assistance to “Reach for the stars” by pursuing their educational goals. Cumulatively, P.E.O. has given over $398 million in financial assistance through direct scholarships and special projects, to more than 110,000 women worldwide. Go to www.peointernational.org to read more about this accomplishment.

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P.E.O. Chapter B, in Westport, Connecticut, celebrated its 80th Anniversary in 2022 by establishing a Chapter B Connecticut P.E.O> Scholarship Fund, which Chapter B will administer. Besides supporting all the P.E.O. Projects, Chapter B will now award individual scholarships beginning in the Spring of 2024 to female high school graduates who are planning to attend a college, university or vocational school to further their education. Young women pursuing these types of continued education are eligible to apply by completing Chapter B’s online application. P.E.O Chapter B CT is excited about its new Scholarship Fund, and is looking forward to awarding its first scholarship in the Spring of 2023.

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In addition, P.E.O. International coordinates the following scholarships through its international website based on recommendations from chapters throughout the country.

 

P.E.O International Projects and Scholarships for Women

Educational Loan Fund (ELF), established in 1907, is a revolving loan fund at a low interest rate for the purpose of loaning money to women for post-secondary education.

 

Cottey College, a fully accredited women’s liberal arts college in Nevada, Missouri which has been owned and supported by the P.E.O Sisterhood since 1927.

 

International Peace Scholarship Fund (IPS) was established in 1949 to provide scholarship for foreign students pursuing graduate study in the United States.

 

Program for Continuing Education (PCE) was established in 1973 to provide grants to women in the United States and Canada  who are seeking to continue their higher education which may have been interrupted due to life events.

 

Scholar Awards, established in 1991,  provide  merit-based scholarships to assist women with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree who are interested in pursuing doctoral level studies.

 

Star Scholarship are scholarships for exceptional women high school graduate who plan to attend an accredited postsecondary institution.