NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

FBL Financial Group Mobilizes Local Corporate Community Around Early Childhood Learning

FBL Financial Group initiated a collaborative effort with other Des Moines-area businesses to produce and deliver 1,000 custom Search & Find educational beanbags to 50 local United Way-supported early learning centers and home care providers. (Photo: FBL Financial Group)

FBL's project partners include Bank of the West, EMC Insurance, John Deere Financial, McGladrey & Pullen LLC, Meredith Corporation, NCMIC, Principal Financial Group, Rotary Club of Des Moines, St. Mary of Nazareth Women's Association, Wells Fargo, and other friends of the United Way Women's Leadership Connection.

Representatives from United Way and each partner organization met at FBL the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 23 to deliver bins filled with the Search & Find beanbags to the United Way-supported child care providers.

"We initially designed this project to engage our own employees in the United Way Women's Leadership Connection mission to improve school readiness for children from birth through age five," says Nancy Doll, FBL's marketing communications vice president. "It didn't take long for us to see that we could do so much more if we reached out and involved other area organizations who are just as focused on building a stronger community."

In 2008, FBL employees completed Search & Find beanbags for the letters A, B, C and X, Y, Z, creating a demand for the rest of the alphabet among United Way-supported child care providers.

"These bags are the most versatile, educational toy in my program," says home child care provider Terry LaBelle. "They adapt for every age and stage of development and learning. I love and appreciate this commitment to developing professional child care resources."

"At Wells Fargo, we're always looking for ways to help make our community better," says Nancy Sandor, business systems consultant. "What made FBL's project so appealing is that we were able to team up with other companies that share our passion for supporting this community. We came together and made a difference for children."

Since the United Way's Women's Leadership Connection was launched in 2002, it has raised more than $8.4 million to help boost the educational success of local children. Ensuring kindergarten readiness is a goal Women's Leadership Connection members feel is vital for our community.

"Meredith Corporation was proud to get involved and support this project," says Deborah Gore Ohrn, editor in chief, Special Interest Media/Creative Collection. "We had a great time making the Search & Find beanbags in our on-site Crafts Lab. In addition to the creative fun, our employees learned more about WLC and the needs of local child development centers."

"This is Thanksgiving week and we're celebrating by giving back through this community collaboration," Doll said. "With the help of our partner companies and organizations, we'll be delivering more than learning tools - they're a gift from the heart that we hope will help fuel a passion for learning."

About the Women's Leadership Connection
Women's Leadership Connection is a United Way program that aligns women's leadership and philanthropy with the urgent community priority of improving early care and learning for children birth through age five. To learn more, visit www.unitedwaydm.org/wlc.

About FBL Financial Group, Inc.
FBL Financial Group is a holding company that has primary operating subsidiaries Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company. FBL Financial Group underwrites, markets and distributes life insurance, annuities and mutual funds to individuals and small businesses. In addition, FBL Financial Group manages all aspects of two Farm Bureau-affiliated property-casualty insurance companies for a management fee. For more information, please visit www.fblfinancial.com.

FFG-1

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6521728&lang=en

FBL Financial Group, Inc.
Sara Prehm, 515-226-6318
Sara.Prehm@FBLFinancial.com