GE’s Industrial Solutions business helped raise more than $115,000 as the title sponsor of a 5K road race in Plainville, Conn., that benefited the Petit Family Foundation. The non-profit Foundation was established in 2007 by Dr. William Petit in memory of his wife and two daughters whose lives were tragically ended during a brutal home invasion in Cheshire, Conn. This was GE’s seventh consecutive year as the leading sponsor of the local race, which cumulatively has now raised more than $1 million.
The Petit Family Foundation focuses its contributions in three areas that were important to Dr. Petit’s late wife and daughters: 1) fostering the education of women in the sciences; 2) improving the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses, and 3) supporting and protecting those affected by violence.
This charity hits close to home for Industrial Solutions, headquartered in Plainville, where Dr. Petit was raised and practiced as an endocrinologist before dedicating his life to carrying out the foundation’s goal of inspiring others to “Be the change.” More than 1,600 runners and walkers participated in the recent event.
“At GE, we believe in taking our global presence in more than 160 countries and acting locally to help fund organizations like the Petit Family Foundation that are actively improving people’s lives every day in the community,” said Gary Arnott, North America General Manager for GE’s Industrial Solutions business, who spoke at the starting line of the GE 5K. “The Foundation’s mission fits perfectly with GE’s citizenship pillars including supporting women in science and engineering, which is vital to us as we hire talent for our new product introduction (NPI) accelerator lab and advanced manufacturing lab in Plainville.”
In 2010, GE took its sponsorship to the next level by hosting a pasta dinner the night before the race. Held outside its Plainville site, the GE Pasta Dinner brings together families in the local community for an evening of great food, entertainment, games, prizes and other carnival favorites, with all ticket proceeds benefitting the foundation.
“With GE’s help and the success of the race and pasta dinner, we’ve turned the whole weekend into a great community event,” said Dr. Petit. “We couldn’t ask for a better corporate sponsor and partner.”
With the help of many GE volunteers, this year the Pasta Dinner raised more than $3,600. GE plans to maintain its sponsorship of the 5K Road Race and Pasta Dinner in the upcoming year, continuing to live the Foundation’s mantra of “Be the Change.”
Dr. William Petit with GE Volunteer, Jessica Morin.