Denise Prohaska has spent nearly two decades watching women’s lives change in quiet but profound ways, whether through a scholarship awarded, a dream revived or a second chance realized.
As a longtime member of P.E.O. Chapter KR in Palos Heights, Prohaska said the organization’s mission goes far beyond monthly meetings. It is rooted in a shared commitment to helping women pursue education, often at pivotal moments in their lives.
“We’re here to support women when they need it most,” said Prohaska, who joined the chapter in 2006 and now serves as treasurer and co-chair of its scholarship efforts alongside Mary Leson of Orland Park.
P.E.O., which stands for Philanthropic Educational Organization, was founded in 1869 by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, with a vision of expanding educational opportunities for women. More than 150 years later, the nonprofit has grown to include thousands of chapters across the United States and Canada, awarding more than $415 million in scholarships, grants, loans and awards to over 122,000 women.
Chapter KR reflects that legacy on a local level.
Its members, who live throughout the southwest suburbs including Oak Lawn, Tinley Park, Palos Park and Plainfield, meet regularly throughout the year, balancing social connection with service. They gather in homes or private dining spaces, but much of their focus remains outward, supporting both national P.E.O. programs and local initiatives.
The chapter contributes to causes such as Kitchen Witches and the Crisis Center for Women, and volunteers its time at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora. It also organizes three annual fundraisers, including a spring flower sale, a fall mum sale and a signature event each spring that highlights both education and storytelling.
This year’s fundraiser, set for April 24 at Moraine Valley Church, will feature a historical reenactment presented by Lynn Rymarz, a fellow P.E.O. member, who will portray two nurses from the Vietnam War. The ticketed event includes a simple dinner and serves as a key source of funding supporting the chapter’s scholarship programs.
Among those programs is the Program for Continuing Education, which provides need-based grants to women whose schooling was interrupted and who later return to complete a degree or certification.
One recent recipient, Deja Pegues, embodies that mission.
A former Chicago teacher, Pegues stepped away from her career to care for her autistic son. When her circumstances allowed, she chose to return to school and pursue certification in midwifery, a path inspired by her interests in wellness and caregiving. She received a $4,000 grant through P.E.O. and is continuing her studies while completing clinical hours overseas.
Pegues is expected to attend the April fundraiser, where she will briefly share her story and the impact the scholarship has had on her life.
“It’s stories like hers that remind us why we do this,” Prohaska said.
In addition to national programs, P.E.O. offers the STAR Scholarship, which provides funding to exceptional high school seniors planning to attend accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States or Canada.
Chapter KR also created its own scholarships to reach students whose paths may differ from traditional four-year college routes. Members recognized a need to support young women pursuing community college, trade or technical education and began awarding two $1,000 scholarships each year.
This spring, those scholarships will be presented during senior award ceremonies in May to Victoria Ortiz of Shepard High School and Rachel Lacina of Stagg High School.
The organization’s philanthropic reach extends even further through statewide efforts, including funds that assist older women with essential needs such as housing, medical expenses and home repairs.
Membership in P.E.O. is by invitation and sponsorship, emphasizing a sense of trust and shared purpose. Prohaska described it as a sisterhood built on friendship, respect and a commitment to service.
That sense of continuity is reflected in members like Jackie Durkin of Palos Heights, who celebrated 50 years with P.E.O. last summer, a milestone that speaks to the enduring appeal of its mission.
Prohaska said the organization’s impact is both personal and far-reaching.
“This is a very worthwhile organization,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of something that truly helps women move forward.”
Through scholarships, volunteer work and community connections, Chapter KR continues to carry forward a mission that began more than a century ago, one woman at a time.