South County residents can enjoy a Texas-style barbecue and entertainment Oct. 6 and help the local Philanthropic Educational Organization raise funds for college scholarship opportunities for young women.
PEO is “a pioneering force for women’s education since 1869,” according to its members.
“The barbecue…at the Gilroy Presbyterian Church is our major fundraiser for scholarships this year,” said Chapter WJ President Valerie Chambliss.
Reservations are required for the event, which includes dinner, entertainment by local songstress Beverly Blount, and special sale and raffle items. Tickets are $25 per person. To reserve seats, contact Diana Dragt at (408) 847-2206 or (408) 499-1265 or
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In 2018, Chapter WJ awarded $1,500 scholarships to local students Ana Barcenas and Iris Indermitte. Barcenas will attend UC Santa Barbara, where she plans to major in psychology and teaching. Indermitte plans to attend Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minn.
Beginning modestly with one $500 local scholarship, the chapter has raised and distributed more than $30,000 to local scholarship recipients since 1997, according to members.
The chapter also supports the national and international PEO philanthropies, which 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. In addition, the chapter has established and endowed the Chapter WJ Foundation, so that donors can see the seeds of their generosity become fruit for future generations of women.
Chapter WJ’s local scholarship competition is open to any woman graduating from high school and living in the Morgan Hill, San Martin or Gilroy school districts, who seeks to pursue an undergraduate degree at an accredited two-year or four-year institution.
Applications are available in January at the career planning centers at Sobrato and Live Oak high schools, and the chapter seeks to distribute applications to young women attending other schools as it becomes aware of their interest. Applications are due in early April and scholarship award winners, and their schools, are notified by early May.
The Morgan Hill chapter’s long history of community service includes a tradition of giving Valentine gift bags to the children at Rebekah Family Services every year and giving non-perishable food items to the St. Joseph’s Family Center before Christmas. Chapter WJ began in 1991 and currently has 47 members.
Since its founding in 1869, PEO has grown to more than 250,000 members in over 6,000 chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada. The PEO Sisterhood has helped over 102,141 women from all over the world reach their educational goals.
For more information, visit peocalifornia.org.
