Waterton Hosts American Lung Association’s Chicago Fight for Air Climb, Raising Over $530,000
CHICAGO (March 13, 2019) — The American Lung Association in Greater Chicago, together with site sponsor Waterton, today announced the 2018 Fight for Air Climb at Presidential Towers exceeded its fundraising goal by raising approximately $530,000, bringing the total to more than $4.0 million raised since the first stair climb at the West Loop rental community in 2008.
The Fight for Air Climb, presented by UnitedHealthcare, was held on Sunday, March 10, with proceeds benefitting the association’s research, education and advocacy efforts. The Presidential Towers climb is one of the highest-grossing Fight for Air events in the country. Approximately 1,760 climbers and 150 volunteers took part in the event— the largest of its kind in Chicago — during which participants climb 2,340 steps across four towers, a total of 180 floors and a distance of about 0.30 miles.
More than 50 Waterton associates participated in the event this year as climbers and volunteers. The Chicago-based real estate company also continued its tradition of contributing additional funds. Other participants included local residents, corporate teams and individuals from across the country as well as 75 local police and firefighters who scaled the towers wearing 70 pounds of gear or weighted vests as part of the “Firefighter Challenge.”
“Each year, we look forward to opening our doors to the Fight for Air Climb and supporting the American Lung Association’s efforts to raise awareness for lung disease, and to provide funding for life-saving research and educational programs,” said David Schwartz, co-founder and CEO of Waterton. “This event is truly a team effort which reflects Waterton’s commitment to health and wellness at both the corporate level and within the properties we manage, including Presidential Towers, Chicago’s largest smoke-free rental community.”
Presidential Towers completed a transition to a 100-percent smoke-free community in 2015. With 2,346 apartments, it is the largest rental community in Chicago to prohibit smoking in all residences and common areas. Waterton’s decision to add a no-smoking clause to all new leases at Presidential Towers, as well as the company’s ongoing support of the Fight for Air Climb, earned it an Impact Award from the American Lung Association in Greater Chicago in 2014.
For more information on the Fight for Air Climb and American Lung Association, visit www.lung.org.
About Waterton:
Waterton is a real estate investor and operator with a focus on U.S. multifamily and hospitality properties. Founded in 1995, Waterton executes value-add strategies and manages a national portfolio of multifamily and hospitality properties on behalf of institutional investors, family offices and financial institutions. Waterton is privately held and is headquartered in Chicago with regional teams throughout the United States. As of December 31, 2018, Waterton’s portfolio includes approximately $4.9 billion in real estate assets.
