Local Landscapes across the Country Get a Facelift

From landscaping a library to restoring a railroad to beautifying a butterfly garden, 114 garden clubs across the U.S. will revamp their local landscapes. Making it all possible? A $51,200 boost from the Principal Financial Group® and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. This collaborative effort will help enhance civic development and encourage communities to reintroduce native plantings into their local landscapes. "The Principal is pleased to once again work with the National Garden Clubs, Inc. to protect and conserve natural resources,” said Chris Riedel-King, corporate relationship manager, The Principal®. "We continue to be impressed with the creativity and dedication local garden clubs across the U.S. demonstrate in developing their projects.” Projects benefitted by the grants range from children’s gardens, walking trail beautification, and landscape restorations. Among the winners was the Seed & Weed Garden Club located in Cheyenne, Wyo., which received $1,000 supporting a children’s garden. The Mountain Garden Club located in Bartlett, N.H., also received a $1,000 grant, which will sustain the restoration of its Children’s Memorial Park. "Community responsibilities always remain a precedent with the members of the National Garden Club,” said Barbara May, president, National Garden Clubs, Inc. "I am delighted that our partnership with The Principal allows us to continue our mission to beautify our neighborhoods and provide education and enjoyment to the public.” All funds granted by the Principal Financial Group, Inc. will help create new civic projects or restore existing ones that use native plantings. The program awards grants up to $1,000 for each project, which must begin after June 2007 and be completed by May 2009. For a complete list of projects, visit http://www.principal.com/gardenclub/winners.htm. About National Garden Clubs, Inc. National Garden Clubs (NGC) is a not-for-profit educational organization with its headquarters in St. Louis, Mo. It is composed of 50 State Garden Clubs and the National Capital Area, 6,218 member garden clubs and 198,595 members. In addition, NGC proudly recognizes 447 International Affiliates from Canada to Mexico and South America, from Bermuda to South Africa, Australia and Japan, as well as 149 National Affiliates within the United States. For more information about NGC, visit www.gardenclub.org. About "Let’s Go Native,” the Principal Financial Group Civic Development Grant Program, 2007-2009 The National Garden Clubs, Inc. accepted applications from affiliated local garden clubs for grants to create new civic projects or restore existing ones that use native plantings. The program awards grants up to $1,000 for each project, which must begin after June 2007 and be completed by May 2009. The grant program is a community outreach project of the Principal Financial Group Foundation Inc., which was formed in 1987. For more information, contact Gloria Blake, NGC Chairman for the Principal Financial Group Grant Program, seaclus@yahoo.com. 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