Geneva’s PEO Sisterhood celebrates 75th anniversary

Submitted by PEO Sisterhood

The Geneva Chapter FE of the PEO Sisterhood celebrated the 75th anniversary of the chapter’s founding on April 4 at the home of Trish Tkach in Geneva.

Thirty-eight chapter members attended the special celebratory luncheon and retelling of the chapter’s 75-year history.

PEO is a philanthropic, educational organization which celebrates the advancement of women; motivates women to achieve their highest aspirations; and educates women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans, and stewardship of Cottey College, founded by and supported by PEO.

The organization was founded on Jan. 21, 1869, by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Today, PEO has grown to almost a quarter of a million members in chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada.

To date, PEO has awarded more than $221 million dollars to 88,000 qualified women.

Chapter FE Geneva was organized on April 2, 1938, with 14 charter members and included St. Charles and Wayne. Today, Chapter FE has 81 resident and nonresident members.