International Sisterhood of P.E.O. of St. Charles awards grant to Aurora U. student

Chapter MW of the International Sisterhood of P.E.O. of St. Charles recently awarded Heidi Huth a Program for Continuing Education grant of $2,200 to aid her in obtaining a degree in social work at Aurora University in Aurora.

Chapter member Dottie Mantsch was instrumental in bringing Heidi to the attention of Chapter MW.

The Philanthropic Educational Organization was founded on Jan. 21, 1869, by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

This circle of kindred spirits - bonded by their enthusiasm for women's opportunities - eventually expanded to include women off campus, as well. Today, P.E.O. has grown from that tiny membership of seven to almost a quarter of a million members in chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada. There are several P.E.O. chapters in the Fox Valley area.

True to the mission of promoting educational opportunities for women, education continues to be the primary philanthropy of the P.E.O. The organization makes a difference in women's lives with six philanthropies that include ownership of a women's college, Cottey College, and five programs that provide higher educational assistance through scholarships, grants, and loans to motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.

Grant, loan and award recipients - as well as Cottey College students - need not be members of P.E.O. With the exception of international students who receive International Peace Scholarships, each recipient is sponsored by a P.E.O. chapter. This allows the chapter members to be a meaningful part of the student's life.

For details, visit www.peointernational.org.