The Principal Financial Group Announces Its Third Annual 401-K Challenge and Sweepstakes Winners
August 24, 2007 (Des Moines, Iowa) — The Huntsville Stars are the first minor league baseball team to reach 401 strikeouts - or Ks - in the Principal Financial Group® Family Fun Fest 401-K Challenge. Sponsored by The Principal®, the nation's 401(k) leader, this friendly rivalry between minor league teams takes place annually as part of the world's largest traveling baseball celebration now touring in 57 cities.
"The idea of the 401-K Challenge Cup is designed to boost the awareness of the importance of retirement saving with a fun competition between teams and their fans. It's another approach to remind those saving for retirement to not drop the ball on their long term financial security," said Daniel J. Houston, executive vice president of Retirement & Investor Services at The Principal.
The Huntsville Stars achieved the "401-K" milestone on July 18, 2007, when pitcher, Derek Miller, struck out Tennessee Smokies player Paul Schappert. The San Jose Giants have held the title for the previous two years.
Along with the 401-K Challenge for the teams is a 401-K Sweepstakes for baseball fans. This year's winner is Stars fan, Richard Comstock, Jr., of East Lansing, Mich. Comstock's name was drawn from among those who correctly guessed the Stars would win the 401-K Challenge for a $5,000 prize.
A local prize winner also will be chosen in a random drawing from each participating minor league baseball market included on the tour to receive a $100 Best Buy gift card and a free six-month membership to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Entertainment & Sports International, Inc. (ESI) produces The Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest and The Principal is the title sponsor of the free, family oriented event.
About Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest
The Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest started in 2004 and has attracted over half a million fans, appearing at more than 100 minor league baseball parks across the United States. For more about The Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest, visit http://www.principal.com/funfest.
About Entertainment & Sports International
Entertainment & Sports International (ESI) is a partnership of two experienced sports and entertainment executives who have worked with some of the best-known entertainment brands of the past two decades. From offices in New York and West Palm Beach, Fla., the company creates and produces distinctive and proprietary sports and entertainment properties and events. For more information, visit www.esiworld.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 and national network of financial professionals. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $282.1 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 18.1 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 trademarks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
2) As of June 30, 2007.
