OREANDA-NEWS. July 09, 2015. Runners from across the state of Connecticut will gather in Plainville on Sunday, July 19 for the eighth annual GE 5K Road Race benefitting the Petit Family Foundation. GE will once again serve as title sponsor of the race, which cumulatively has raised more than \$1 million for the non-profit organization.

“GE is proud to have been the tile sponsor of the race since its inception eight years ago,” said Gia Oei, communications executive for GE’s Industrial Solutions business. “The mission of the Petit Family Foundation fits perfectly with GE’s citizenship pillars, including supporting women in science and engineering, which is vital to GE as we hire talent for our new technology centers of excellence.”

The Petit Family 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. The 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.

“GE has been tremendously supportive since our very first race,” said Dr. Petit. “We’ve turned the whole race weekend into a great community event, and that’s thanks in large part to GE and its volunteers. We couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

Race Information

Race registration will be held from 7-8:30 a.m. at the home of GE’s Industrial Solutions business, 41 Woodford Ave., in Plainville. The race will start at 9 a.m. on the corner of Route 10 and East Street. In addition to the race, there will be a fitness walk, which also starts at 9 a.m. A kids’ fun run will be held at 8:30 a.m., for children eight-years-old and younger. Walk-up registration and pre-registration pick-up will be available at the GE facility on Saturday, July 18 from noon to 4 p.m. Entry fee for the race and fitness walk is \$30 until noon on Friday, July 17 and \$35 on race day. The kids’ fun run is free.

Other events planned for race day include food and beverages, a massage tent, an appearance by the University of Connecticut mascot “Jonathan” and more. There also will be a drawing for six raffle prizes including a 60” Vizio TV and a Microsoft Surface 3 Tablet. Raffle tickets are \$2 and can be purchased the day before the race during registration pickup or on Sunday up until drawing time.

Family Fun-Filled Pasta Dinner Planned

GE will once again host a pasta dinner the night before the race on Saturday, July 18 from 5-8 p.m. The pasta dinner is a fun-filled night for families in the community, race participants and employees that includes lives music, family photos, carnival games, a silent auction, door prizes and more. Pasta dinner tickets are \$8 for adults; \$5 for kids 8-12; and free for kids age 7 and under. Raffle tickets also will be on sale during the dinner. All proceeds benefit the foundation.

Dr. Petit added, “GE’s pasta dinner is a great precursor to our race. It brings together families from all over the area for an evening of great food, children’s activities and entertainment.”

About The Petit Family Foundation

The Petit Family Foundation honors the memories of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Hayley Elizabeth Petit, and Michaela Rose Petit by continuing the kindness, idealism and activism that defined their lives. The Foundation's funds 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.

About GE’s Industrial Solutions Business

Industrial Solutions empowers smarter business operations by connecting equipment, software and services to protect, control and optimize assets within electrical infrastructures. The business provides customers, across various industries, with end-to-end product and service solutions that help ensure the reliability and protection of their electrical infrastructure. Industrial Solutions’ product and service solutions add to GE’s broader portfolio of leading technology solutions for the delivery, management, conversion and optimization of electrical power for customers across multiple energy-intensive industries.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) imagines things others don’t, builds things others can’t and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings together the physical and digital worlds in ways no other company can. In its labs and factories and on the ground with customers, GE is inventing the next industrial era to move, power, build and cure the world. www.ge.com