The Principal Financial Group Honors King, History and Future of African Americans
Celebration of African American History Month includes national, regional and employee events
DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. announces a $25,000 contribution to help create the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, “The Stone of Hope.” Upon its completion in 2008, the monument will be dedicated within the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
“The Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. is proud to support this significant project that honors the contributions of the life and work of the late Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Lucia Riddle, vice president of Principal Financial Group Federal Government Relations. “We hope that this latest addition to the National Mall and its path of honored heroes will bring a feeling of peace, reflection and inspiration to all who visit.”
 | “I’ll Make Me A World in Iowa” The Principal Financial Group® plans to support African American History Month on a regional level through its sponsorship of the celebration, “I’ll Make Me A World in Iowa,” (www.worldiniowa.com), which takes place Jan. 26, 2008. This annual event embraces arts, culture and contributions of African Americans. Hundreds of local and national artists provide entertainment, and local chefs prepare and serve “soul food” to the thousands of community members who participate. |
“The Principal is an advocate for creating formal opportunities for employees who have similar interests and cultural experiences to come together, provide education to others and serve the community. Supporting ‘I’ll Make Me A World in Iowa’ is a perfect example,” said Jonna Williams-Bey, leader of the company’s African American/Black Employee Resource Group and an instructional developer in The Principal Retirement and Investor Services Division. “As we near African American History Month, our employee resource group is excited to play a part in bringing our colleagues together to celebrate the many contributions of African Americans to history, business and society.”
Employee Resource Groups Broaden Understanding
Contributing to the company’s inclusive work environment, the Principal Financial Group supports employee resource groups; a formal setting for employees who have similar interests and who have culturally been underrepresented in the workforce. These groups give employees opportunities to connect with others who have similar interests and want to use those interests to contribute to the organization. Employees also reach out to the community to network and provide service. In addition to the African American/Black Employee Resource Group, The Principal also has formal Asian, Disability, Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender, Hispanic/Latino and Muslim employee resource groups.
“The members of the African American/Black Employee Resource Group are looking forward to offering many educational and entertaining events throughout February to help our colleagues better understand and appreciate the African American culture,” said Williams-Bey.
About 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 $306 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 18.3 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 September 30, 2007
Contacts
Principal Financial Group
Joelle Kline, 515-246-4907
kline.joelle@principal.com
or
Rhonda Clark-Leyda, 515-247-6634
clark-leyda.rhonda@principal.com
