The P.E.O. Sisterhood is a philanthropic educational organization offering scholarships, grants, awards and loans to help women enhance their lives through learning. On Nov. 8, 2014, the first chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood was organized on the Sunshine Coast. The chapter is active locally in raising funds and making recommendations for scholarships, grants, and loans. P.E.O. has brought together more than half a million women in the United States and Canada who are passionate about helping women advance through education, while supporting and motivating them.
To date, nine women on the Coast have received a P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education grant enabling them to pursue their personal educational goals, thus opening up better work opportunities. A woman is eligible to apply if she has had at least 24 consecutive months as a non-student sometime in her adult life, is within 18 months of completing her educational goal, and is enrolled in an educational program leading to employment or job advancement. This grant is intended for education-related expenses such as tuition, books, supplies, transportation and/or childcare necessary to reach her goal.
One young local woman has also received the P.E.O. STAR Scholarship. It is a highly competitive one-time $2,500 scholarship recognizing graduating high school women who demonstrate outstanding leadership, academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and community service and who plan to pursue full or part-time post-secondary education in the United States or Canada beginning in the fall following their high school graduation. Young women currently in Grade 11 are eligible to apply.
Applications for grants, scholarships, and loans must be sponsored by a P.E.O. chapter. If you, or someone you know, are interested in learning more about these funding opportunities or this organization, please inquire by email at [email protected] or see the P.E.O. International website at peointernational.org
