In
remembrance
The Petit Family Foundation was created to remember
Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley and Michaela, who died in a
2007 invasion to their
Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2012 8:47 am | Updated:
9:08 am, Thu Jul 26, 2012.
By Crystal Maldonado The
Plainville Citizen | 0 comments
“You must be the change you wish to see in the
world.”
That Gandhi quote is the basis for the Petit Family
Foundation, created to honor the memories of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two
daughters, 17-year-old Hayley (a recent graduate of Miss Porter’s School who’d
planned to attend Dartmouth College) and 11-year-old Michaela (6th grader at
Chase Collegiate School).
The three women died in a 2007 home invasion in
There was an outpouring of support for the family,
including many in
It’s been five years since then.
A memorial was held at Our Lady of Mercy in Plainville
July 23 to mark the anniversary and remember the lives of the women who were
actively involved in community service – Jennifer in the Methodist church, the
local food bank, Heifer International and diabetes organizations; Hayley in the
CT Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; and Michaela with
charities that help animals.
The Petit Family Foundation, created in 2008, furthers
the family’s philanthropic efforts to fulfill the Gandhi quote – a favorite of
Michaela’s – to ‘be the change.’ Funds from the foundation are given to foster
the education of young people, especially women in the sciences; to improve the
lives of those affected by chronic illnesses; and to support efforts to protect
and help those affected by violence.
Now, the foundation has several events, some in
Plainville, including the GE/Petit Road Race July 14, the GE/Petit 5K Road Race
held July 15 and the upcoming Ride for Justice in nearby Bristol Sunday, Sept.
30. It gives scholarships and community service awards to
At the public memorial service in 2007, hosted by
“Help a neighbor, fight for a cause, and love your
family,” he said.
For more information about the foundation, or to
donate, visitwww.petitfamilyfoundation.org .
http://www.myrecordjournal.com/plainvillecitizen/article_29fbc328-d720-11e1-93b0-0019bb2963f4.html