What We Do

The PETIT FAMILY FOUNDATION tries to do as many good actions as possible to counteract the evil that truly exists in the world today. We feel that we all must make a commitment to do what we can to make this world a better place.

At the age of 11, MICHAELA PETIT was taken by Gandhi's quotation, "YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD." The Foundation is helping to "be the change" by funding different programs that are consistent with our mission statement and goals. We are a new Foundation and are mainly funding programs that can help a larger number of people and give our donors and the programs we fund the biggest bang for our investment. We are doing our best to fulfill our mission statement. We want to remember three very special women, JENNIFER LYNN HAWKE-PETIT, HAYLEY ELIZABETH PETIT, and MICHAELA ROSE PETIT, who were ruthlessly taken from us by very evil men who have no place in a moral and just society.

These special women's futures and abilities that were helping to change the world were destroyed by evil. We need to stand for JENNIFER, HAYLEY, and MICHAELA along with the many other victims of violent crime that are often forgotten by a media uninterested in focusing on the victims and the rights of those left behind. The PETIT FAMILY FOUNDATION is trying to change the focus towards that which is truly important and that which JENNIFER, HAYLEY, and MICHAELA taught us through their example. We need to replace evil with ACTIVISM, IDEALISM, and KINDNESS.

Specifically the PETIT FAMILY FOUNDATION wants to support the second line of our mission statement and help with the education of young people, help those affected by chronic illness and help and protect those affected by violence. We need to remember the good in all.

As we are a new Foundation, still building our financial resources, we currently only fund programs (in all three areas--education, chronic illness, and helping those affected by violence), rather than individuals, as this creates the greatest benefit to the most people for the grants awarded.