History of P.E.O.
P.E.O. was founded in 1869 by seven young women at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Bonded in friendship and the belief in women’s education, this small group of seven friends soon expanded to include others within their community. From there it expanded across the United States and, by the 1920’s, north into Canada. Friendship remains the cornerstone of our Sisterhood, a legacy entrusted to us by our founders.
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NORTHEAST DISTRICT CHAPTER OF THE P.E.O. SISTERHOOD (NEDC)
The Northeast District Chapter (NEDC) is made up of four states; Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It was the first district chapter organized in the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Convocation was held in Rockport, Maine on November 3, 1990, where Shirley Hall, Chapter I-Maine was elected as the first president of the Northeast District. Today, the “district” has grown to 40 chapters with over 1300 members.
P.E.O. is an international organization with almost a quarter of a million members in over 6,000 chapters across the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. We are proud to be part of this international sisterhood that promotes the education and betterment of women worldwide through scholarship, grant, and loan programs.
Interested in a scholarship, loan, or grant?
Check out the links below to donate or learn about our International scholarship, grant, and loan programs for women to see if you qualify for one or more. All the programs except the International Peace Scholarship, require sponsorship by a local P.E.O. chapter. Once you have checked the program(s) requirements, you may talk to any P.E.O. you know or CLICK HERE and you will be connected to a P.E.O. chapter in your community.