October Star Card purchases offer discounts at 79 businesses in greater Paso Robles area
PASO ROBLES — For the month of October, purchasers of $50 Paso Robles Chapters of Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) International Star Cards will be rewarded with 20 percent and other discounts from 79 participating retail and service partners in the greater Paso Robles area.
Proceeds from the sale of Star Cards benefit scholarships for local women to help them reach for the stars and fulfill their dreams through educational opportunities. Started in 2021 as an annual fundraiser by the Paso Robles Chapters of PEO International Star Card, purchases have raised $47,155 in financial assistance for local women.
To purchase a Star Card, visit PEOpaso.org. The website provides a link to Eventbrite for purchases of Star Cards for $50 plus a $5 handling fee. Participating retail and service partners include automotive and hardware; clothing and jewelry; fabric, quilting, and yarn; florists and nurseries; gifts, art, and home décor; health and fitness; restaurants and specialty foods; spas and salons; and wineries, breweries, and distilleries.
The Paso Robles chapters of PEO focus on helping women in north San Luis Obispo County. Chapter HL’s endowed Kiper-Twist Scholarship Fund provides need-based scholarships for residents and high school graduates with a minimum 2.8 GPA or GED equivalent, who attend a school of their choice. Chapter YD’s CA Education Fund was established in 2024 with funds to be used to support women who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada, high school graduates, and enrolled in an accredited post-secondary school in the U.S. or Canada. Both chapters also help direct candidates to apply to PEO’s seven California state and PEO International’s six scholarship, grant, and loan programs.
Founded in 1869, PEO International is one of the oldest women’s organizations in North America, with close to 6,000 chapters and more than 372,000 members. As of 2024, PEO has provided over $432 million in financial assistance to more than 125,000 women across North America to pursue their educational goals.
Responding to sustained growth in membership and increased community awareness, Paso Robles now boasts two complementary chapters of PEO Chapter HL, which was established in 1992 and meets the second Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. and has helped 68 women with awards totaling over $157,200 in financial support since 2002. The new chapter YD, chartered in February, meets each month on the third Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to better accommodate the schedules of working women.
Membership in PEO is open to women 18 years and older. For information about the two PEO chapters and the many sources of educational funding and support available for women locally through the organization, visit PEOpaso.org.
