The Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. pledged $1 million to the
Embrace Iowa – 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund, a
newly established private-sector effort initiated by a request from
Governor Chet Culver, which provides assistance through grants to local
community foundation organizations in communities across Iowa that have
been impacted by recent natural disasters.
“Thousands of Iowans are struggling to put
their lives back together after a series of devastating weather
disasters,” said J. Barry Griswell, chairman
of the Principal Financial Group®.
“This is all about Iowans reaching out to help
other Iowans. I’ve seen the damage first-hand
and the magnitude of the disaster is staggering. We’re
glad to help with this donation from The Principal Financial Group
Foundation and we encourage other Iowa businesses to do the same.”
The Embrace Iowa – 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund
was recently launched with nearly $3.2 million in contributions and
pledges from individuals and businesses. The fund is administered by the
Greater Des Moines Community Foundation and grants will be made to other
local community foundations in impacted areas where local leaders will
determine the greatest areas of need.
The Principal Financial Group Foundation announced in June that
donations made by Principal Financial Group employees, retirees and
career agents would be matched by the Foundation. These contributions
are being accepted through July 11, 2008.
“The recent storms have impacted not only our
customers and the communities where we do business, but many of our
employees have experienced loss,” said
Griswell. “The 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund is a
way we can directly offer help, and hope, to those in need.”
The Principal® has
offices in the effected areas of Cedar Rapids, Mason City, Waterloo,
Cedar Falls and Hiawatha. In addition, several Principal Financial Group
employees who live in Parkersburg also lost their homes.
2008 Iowa Disaster Collaborative
Griswell co-chairs the 2008 Iowa Disaster Collaborative with fellow
business and community leader Fred Hubbell at the request of Iowa
Governor Chet Culver. The 2008 Iowa Disaster Collaborative is a
private-sector initiative to help coordinate statewide funding efforts
and to work with local community leaders to identify and address unmet
needs for assistance as a result of natural disasters in Iowa. The
collaborative also includes Cedar Rapids community leaders Pat Baird,
chairman of Aegon, Clay Jones, chair of Rockwell-Collins, University of
Iowa President Sally Mason of Iowa City and Amy Nimmer, president of the
John Deere Foundation of the Quad-Cities.
About the Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc.
The Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1987 to
help strengthen communities in which the Principal Financial Group has a
major employee presence. Through grants, matching gifts, in-kind
contributions, volunteer efforts and partnerships the Principal
Financial Group and the Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. gives
to those in need by supporting affordable housing, health and human
services, educational programs, cultural opportunities and community
initiatives.
The Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group®
(The Principal ®)1
is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional
clients a wide range of financial products and services, including
retirement and investment services, life and health insurance, and
banking through its diverse family of financial services companies. A
member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $304.2
billion in assets under management2 and serves
some 18.8 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia,
Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group,
Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol
PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.
1 "The Principal Financial Group" and “The
Principal” are registered service marks of
Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial
Group.
2 As of March 31, 2008
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