Foundations to Honor the Petit Family

William Petit talked to ABC News about keeping memories of his family alive.

Nov. 19, 2007 — -- Last week William Petit handed out the first Hayley and Michaela Petit Multiple Sclerosis Youth Award, in honor of his daughters.

Their mother had suffered from MS and the girls were very involved in the fight against the disease — it's a fight their dad is now continuing in their memory.

Jennifer Hawke-Petit and daughters Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, were killed in a home invasion July 23. Petit escaped during the attack.

When she was 11, Hayley started her own fund, Hayley's Hope, for the Multiple Sclerosis Society after her mother was diagnosed with the disease. She began by organizing a team for an annual MS walk-a-thon and raised $55,000 over eight years.

Hayley was helping her sister organize her own charitable fund called Michaela's Miracle.

Other foundations have been set up in honor of Jennifer, Haley and Michaela to benefit the causes they were passionate about. Get more about those organizations below.

Hayley's Hope or Michaela's Miracle

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Greater CT Chapter

659 Tower Ave., 1st Floor

Hartford, CT 06112

Web site: www.ctfightsms.org

Precious Petit Foundation

c/o Cheshire United Methodist Church

205 Academy Rd.

Cheshire, CT 06410

Web site: www.gbgm-umc.org/cheshireumc

The Petit Family Foundation

Farmington Savings Bank

32 Main St.

Farmington, CT 06032

Jennifer Hawke-Petit Scholarship at Cheshire Academy

10 Main St.

Cheshire, CT 06410

Hayley Petit Scholarship

at Miss Porter's School

60 Main St.

Farmington, CT 06032

Michaela Petit Scholarship

at Chase Collegiate School

565 Chase Parkway

Waterbury, CT 06708