Philanthropic Educational Organization celebrates 60 years of assisting women
On Thursday, Medicine
Hat’s own chapter J of the Philanthropic Educational Organization celebrated their 60th birthday.
The chapter aims to collect funds, which through the overarching organization, helps women reach their goals of attending a higher education, said Dianne Ziegenhagel, guard of the P.E.O.
The organization began as a sorority, said Ziegenhagel, but has since expanded to a wider aim of assisting all women within their community when it comes to attending further schooling.
“We’re a tight knit group,” said Ziegenhagel. “Years ago, we used to do things like help cook the food when there was a funeral. When the new courthouse was built, this group made lunch for all the dignitaries, and they paid us and then we sent it to be a part of the fund for all of the scholarships that P.E.O. offers.”
Over the course of the years,
Chapter J has raised $48,758, and through the larger organization, local women have received $169,950, as the funds do not stay directly within the communities they are raised in, and rather go into a larger pool which the scholarships are awarded from.
“We’re kind of old fashioned, but in a really nice way,” said Ziegenhagel. “There’s a lot of respect for all the girls in the group, and for the community that we’re in, just trying to help the girls around here shine.”
April 18 marked the 60th anniversary of the Chapter opening to the very day, said Ziegenhagel, making this opportunity to celebrate special. The members, alongside their partners, gathered in the Medicine Hat Golf and
Country club for dinner and a chance to socialize.
P.E.O. is currently working on a variety of fundraisers, both classic and innovative, to continue their good work within the city, said Ziegenhagel, and looks forward to hopefully celebrating for many more years to come.