Thrive in 5 mourns the loss of our beloved former Mayor, career-long education advocate and friend, Thomas M. Menino.

“Mayor Menino understood that the best way to ensure life-long success is to start early, building a solid foundation for learning in the first five years of life,” said Jane Tewksbury, Executive Director of Thrive in 5, a public-private partnership between the City of Boston and United Way of Massachusetts Bay launched by Mayor Menino in 2008. “We owe our existence to Tom Menino and have lost a great friend and partner.”

Menino’s legacy as a five-term urban mayor includes the launch and expansion of the Boston Public Schools’ pre-kindergarten program and multiple initiatives focused on improving health and well-being of children, families and communities across Boston.

The Thrive in 5 Leadership Council, team and partners send our condolences to the Menino family.