HARRISBURG, Pa., March 4 Auditor General Jack Wagner will join the American Lung Association in its "Fight for Air Climb," beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, for a fundraising drive in the fight against lung disease, where hundreds of people will try to make their way up 38 floors of stairs in a climb to the top of the Gulf Tower in downtown Pittsburgh at 707 Grant Street.
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"Each year this event brings people from across the county together to show their support in the fight against lung disease. None of us has to look very far to know someone or know of someone who has been affected by lung disease. So I am always happy to lend my support to such an important and worthy cause, and I urge others to do the same," Wagner said.
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Wagner is not only taking on the tough task of climbing the flights of stairs, but he will kick off the race and be the first out of the gate to set the pace to begin the climb to the top.
Formerly known as Climb Pittsburgh, the 4th annual Fight for Air Climb brings athletes and challenge-seekers together to support the important work of the American Lung Association.
This event is a vertical race to climb 38 floors and a great way for people to challenge themselves physically and to improve their conditioning, while having fun doing it. Wagner has regularly participated in the stair climb since it began four years ago.
As auditor general, Wagner's department is responsible for auditing hundreds of institutions that Pennsylvania taxpayers come in contact with every day, including the state's 500 school districts, 14 universities under the State System of Higher Education, and most of the state's 250 hospitals and 36 county nursing homes.
As the state's independent fiscal watchdog, Wagner identified job retention and growth, fiscal responsibility, public safety and reform of the government as his administration's top priorities. Wagner has focused on issues that have been of greatest importance to commonwealth residents and has identified his mission is "to improve the performance of government so that it improves the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians."
Wagner served on Pittsburgh City Council for 10 years, serving as Council President from 1990 to 1993. In 1994, he was elected to the Pennsylvania Senate, where he served for 10 years before his election as auditor general in November 2004. He was re-elected to a second term as auditor general in November 2008.
Auditor General Jack Wagner is responsible for ensuring that all state money is spent legally and properly. He is the Commonwealth's elected independent fiscal watchdog, conducting financial audits, performance audits and special investigations. The Department of the Auditor General conducts approximately 5,000 audits per year. To learn more about the Department of the Auditor General, taxpayers are encouraged to visit the department's Web site at www.auditorgen.state.pa.us
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General
