BRIGHTON — Gini Hale is the new president of the Colorado Chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood.

    Hale, a Brighton resident and member of Chapter FA-Brighton, was elected and installed during the organization’s 108th convention June 4-6 in Denver.

    P.E.O, a pioneer society for women, was founded in 1869, by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Originally a small campus friendship society, P.E.O. soon blossomed to include women off campus. Today, P.E.O. has grown to almost a quarter of a million members in chapters in the United States and Canada. The P.E.O. Sisterhood mission focuses on promotion of educational opportunities for women. The sisterhood proudly makes a difference in women’s lives with six philanthropies that include ownership of a two-year women’s college, Cottey College, and five programs that provide higher educational assistance.

    The Colorado State Chapter is the seventh largest in the organization with nearly 11,000 members. Visit the State website (www.coloradopeo.org) or the International website (www.peointernational.org) for information about our loans and scholarships for women.  Brighton area residents are also encouraged to contact Bobbi Jo Unruh 303-659-4907 for more information about local scholarships.