International Sisterhood of P.E.O. awards $1,200 grant

The International Sisterhood of P.E.O. recently awarded Shannon Stark a Program for Continuing Education grant of $1,200 to aid her in obtaining an Associate's Degree in Business Administration from Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove. Stark will graduate in August.

Chapter MW of St. Charles initiated the contact with Shannon and supported her through the application process with P.E.O International. Shannon had been recommended to Chapter MW through the Connect4Success Program at Waubonsee.

Chapter MW had the privilege of presenting her the P.C.E. grant from P.E.O. International.

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, do not need to 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 "their" student's life.

For details, visit www.peointernational.org.