Petit Family Foundation Receives 2008 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

NEW HAVEN, CT—FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Kimberly K. Mertz announced that the Petit Family Foundation is the Connecticut recipient of the 2008 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA).  The award was presented today to Dr. William A. Petit, Jr. in Washington D.C., at a ceremony held at FBI Headquarters.

The Petit Family Foundation began as members of the Country Club in Farmington, CT thought of ways to help the Petit Family, following the senseless and brutal murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Hayley Elizabeth Petit and Michaela Rose Petit during a home invasion in July, 2007.  Dr. William Petit, Jr. was severely beaten with a baseball bat and left for dead during the incident.

The mission of the Foundation is to foster the education of young people, especially those 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.  More information about the Petit Family Foundation can be found at www.petitfamilyfoundation.org.

“The FBI deeply appreciates the commitment to community service evidenced by the Petit Family Foundation’s accomplishments,” said SAC Mertz.  “Although born out of indescribable tragedy, the Foundation’s scholarship programs and support for services offered to victims of violence benefit our community immeasurably.”

The DCLA is presented annually to an individual or organization by each of the FBI’s 56 field offices.  Established in 1990, the DCLA is designed to publicly recognize the achievements of recipients who have helped with crime prevention and educational programs within their communities and furthered the efforts of law enforcement.  The FBI is grateful for all of the recipients’ outstanding contributions.