About Us
Scholarships for Women
Welcome to the P.E.O. Chapter L- Hawai'i
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We are a local chapter, part of an international organization, that strives to help women achieve their educational dreams.
P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) is a nonprofit organization where women CELEBRATE the advancement of women; EDUCATE women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans, and stewardship of Cottey College and MOTIVATE women to achieve their highest aspirations. Through membership, the P.E.O. Sisterhood has brought together more than a half a million women in the U.S. and Canada who are passionate about helping women advance through education, while supporting and motivating them. With nearly 5,500 chapters, P.E.O. is one of the oldest women's organizations in North America.
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As of April 2024, P.E.O. International has helped more than 125,000 women pursue educational goals by providing over $432 million in educational assistance, making a difference in women's lives through six philanthropies and a foundation. The funds awarded to date:
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Educational Loan Fund: loans totaling $249.8 million. ELF is a revolving loan fund established in 1907 to lend money to qualified women students to assist them in securing a higher education.
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International Peace Scholarships: totaling $49.8 million. A fund established in 1949 to provide scholarships for international women students to pursue graduate study in the U.S. and Canada.
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Program for Continuing Education: grants totaling $74 million. Established in 1973 to provide need-based grants to women in the U.S. and Canada whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to support themselves and/or their families.
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Scholar Awards: totaling $36.7 million. Established in 1991 to provide substantial merit-based awards for women of the U.S. and Canada who are pursuing a doctoral-level degree at an accredited college or university.
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STAR Scholarships: totaling $21.8 million. Established in 2009 to provide scholarships for exceptional high school senior women to attend an accredited institution in the U.S. or Canada in the next academic year.
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Cottey College is a nationally ranked, fully accredited, independent, liberal arts/sciences college for women located in Nevada, Missouri, has been owned /supported by P.E.O. since 1927 and offers baccalaureate and associate degrees in a variety of majors. Cottey College, a debt-free institution, welcomes women from around the world.
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P.E.O. Foundation is a nonprofit corporation established in 1961 to encourage tax-deductible giving to the educational and charitable projects of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. It is a service to the Sisterhood.
To learn more about P.E.O. International, click on the link below