P.E.O. International awards loan to student through St. Charles chapter

The International Sisterhood of P.E.O. recently awarded Haley Niedra a loan through their Educational Loan Fund.

Niedra is pursuing an Associate Degree in Applied Science through Joliet Junior College, with an overall goal of obtaining certification as a veterinary technician. Niedra currently works 20 hours per week at a veterinary hospital while attending school four days per week.

Chapter MW of St. Charles initiated the contact with Niedra and supported her through the application process with P.E.O. International.

The Educational Loan Fund was established in 1907 to lend money to qualified women students to assist them in securing a higher education.

The fund has loaned $235.9 million to 50,636 women since 1907. This is in keeping with P.E.O.'s mission of celebrating the advancement of women; educating women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans, the stewardship of Cottey College, and generally motivating women to achieve their highest aspirations.

The Philanthropic Educational Organization was founded by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College in 1869, but now has a membership of over a quarter of a million women in 6,000 chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada. There are several P.E.O chapters in the Fox Valley area.

Grant, loan, and award recipients 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 their student's life.

For details, visit www.peointernational.org.