Dr. Petit honored for forming foundation to address education, illness, and violence issues
Dr. William A. Petit, Jr., a member of the Cheshire Academy Board of Trustees, is one of five inaugural winners of the Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation Human Spirit Awards. Dr. Petit will be recognized Saturday, Nov. 9, at the 2024 Human Spirit Awards Dinner, which pays tribute to individuals and organizations that inspire others to make a difference in their communities and in our world.
Named for the late WFSB Channel 3 anchor, the foundation continues D’Ascenzo’s legacy of love and kindness by supporting advances in medicine and health, promoting responsibility in the media, and assisting those facing physical and mental challenges.
The tragic and senseless murders of Dr. Petit’s wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, a Cheshire Academy nurse and co-director of the Richmond Health Center, and their daughters, Hayley and Michaela, led to the formation of the Petit Family Foundation, which provides help to educate young people, supports those with chronic illnesses, and protects those affected by violence. Working with many volunteers from across the state, Dr. Petit and his organization raise funds that touch the lives of more and more people every year.
“I am humbled to be named a Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation Human Spirit Award winner,” Dr. Petit said. “I am happy to accept this award on behalf of my family, my board of directors, and our many volunteers who have made the Petit Family Foundation what it is today.”
Dr. Petit joins four other inspiring winners: Lesley Bennett, who advocated for the formation of the State Rare Disease Council; the Bristol Police Department, whose officers bravely continued to patrol their town while recovering from the 2022 fatal shooting of two of their fellow officers and the wounding of a third; Jalyn Hunter, who became a quadriplegic at age 16 and demonstrates a daily “can do” attitude by being a student at Southern Connecticut State University and working at Home Depot; and Dave Stevens, who was born without legs and became a three-sport athlete in high school and the only legless college football and Minor League Baseball player in college and pro sports history, later winning seven sports Emmys during 20 years at ESPN.
The foundation will also present the first Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation Kindness Award to the late Dan Nolan. A U.S. Army veteran, Nolan served in the Connecticut National Guard for 38 years and was one of the first local firefighters to serve at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks.
The Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation’s volunteer board raises funds through events like the Human Spirit Awards Dinner, supporting many community organizations, including Hartford HealthCare nursing staff, Connecticut Food Bank, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Dress for Success, Ronald McDonald House, The ALS Association, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Toy Closet Program, and more.
The Petit Family Foundation supports many causes. Dr. Petit credited his family, board, and volunteers for making that possible.
“With their help and guidance,” he said, “we have donated 7.5 million dollars to myriad organizations since 2007 that are aligned with our mission: providing help to educate young people (especially women in the sciences), help support those with chronic illnesses, and help to protect those affected by violence.”
The Human Spirit Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. Tickets are $150 per person and are available now at www.TheDeniseFoundation.com.
