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Everyone's a winner
P.E.O's Quilt Bingo a hit
P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) is a philanthropic organization where “women celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College (in Nevada, Mo.); and motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.”
The organization offers five types of scholarships:
• Educational Loan Fund (ELF), established in 1907, makes loans available to qualified women who desire higher education and are in need of financial assistance. An applicant must be recommended by a local chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and be within two years of completing her course of study. The current maximum loan is $10,000 at 3 percent interest and due six years from the date of issue.
• International Peace Scholarship (IPS) Fund was established in 1949 to provide scholarships for international women students to pursue graduate study in the United States and Canada.
• P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE) was established in 1973 to provide need-based grants to women in the United States and Canada whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to support themselves and/or their families.
• P.E.O. Scholar Awards (PSA) was established in 1991 to provide substantial merit-based awards for women of the United States and Canada who are either pursuing a doctoral level degree or are engaged in postdoctoral research at an accredited college, university or institution.
• Established in 2009, the STAR Scholarship provides a $2,500 award to high school senior women who wish to pursue post-secondary education.
For more information, visit www.peointernational.org/peo-projectsphilanthropies.
Now in its fourth year, P.E.O.'s Quilt Bingo is acquiring quite a following as players come back each year in hopes of being the one to call “bingo.”
That's because the winners at this bingo party will get special one-of-a-kind prizes – quilts lovingly made by the hands of P.E.O. members in Yuma.
At the same time, participants will be helping to raise money for scholarships for women.
It's so popular, last year's event sold out. It sold 220 tickets and raised about $2,000 for scholarships.
This year, 250 tickets are available but they likely will go fast, said Terri Murdock, who urged people to call in advance for their ticket.
Quilt Bingo will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Palms RV Resort Clubhouse, 3400 S. Ave. 7E. Cost is $12 for 10 bingo games. Each participant will receive three cards per game for a total of 30 cards for the afternoon. For advance tickets, call Sandy at (928) 726-9039.
The winner of each game will receive a handmade quilted wall hanging or lap-size quilt, all made by P.E.O. members.
In addition, there will be drawings for 25 quilted table toppers.
And baked goods will be available as well.
Last year, in honor of Arizona's centennial, the quilts all had a Southwest theme. This year, anything goes.
“We left it up to the quilters,” Murdock said. There's one with a mountain theme and another with children playing at the beach, one has peacocks in a colorful Oriental theme; some feature boutique fabrics or raised appliques; there are traditional pieced quilts and more modern ones.
“We have some very talented quilters in our group,” she said. “We each did what we enjoy. It's quite an array.”
Those who don't quilt, bake.
The event got its start with one member who quilted, Murdock explained. “We thought it was an amazing idea. We had 100 people come the first year and it's grown every year. We've even had a few men come. Some quilters come and others who are just looking for something different. It's open to anyone. If they come once, they usually come back. I think that's a good endorsement for us.”
She also feels pretty good about how the event helps women further their education through the scholarships P.E.O offers.
Murdock spoke of one scholarship recipient who designed a new form of vessel for heart transplant patients. Others from around the world come to the United States for their education, then go back home to help their communities and countries.
“It's beyond my comprehension what these women are accomplishing,” Murdock said. “It's very rewarding to see what work is going on that we've helped support.”
