Thank You, Mayor Menino
Former Mayor Tom Menino was fondly remembered around the United Way office today upon news of his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Menino family and all of the Bostonians who knew and loved their mayor.
From UW President Mike Durkin:
“At United Way, we join all the people in Boston and beyond in grieving the loss of former mayor Thomas M. Menino. Personally, I will always remember and be grateful for how he welcomed me from the beginning, when I came here to Boston 7 years ago, in getting to know the people and neighborhoods of the City. The first thing that struck me about him was the obvious way that he cared for all of Boston’s people: hands-on and heart-on-his-sleeve.
Mike Durkin joins Mayor Menino on the annual Homeless Census in 2007 (photo: Boston Globe)
From one of my first acts upon moving to Boston, joining Mayor Menino on his annual homeless census, to launching our joint Thrive in 5 initiative to give every child in Boston a chance to succeed, and so much more, Tom Menino was a champion of Boston’ s people and neighborhoods.
He leaves a legacy that touches every part of Boston, from our city’s skyline and thriving neighborhoods, to the children learning and growing in our local community centers every day. Most of all, Tom Menino leaves a city full of people who learned from and were inspired by him for 20 years as mayor, and will continue to carry his passion and dedication in their own work toward an even better, brighter future for Boston that would make him proud.”
From Thrive in 5’s Jane Tewksbury:
“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. 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. (Read more from Thrive in 5)
From the Archives:
A look back at many years of proud partnerships and support from Mayor Menino that helped change lives in Boston.
2008: Mayor Menino and United Way launch Thrive in 5
2009: United Way invests $2 million in Mayor Menino’s Food + Fuel Campaign
2010: Leading funders join Mayor Menino, Boston Public Schools to build a historic educational partnership
2013: Mayor Menino Launches Fund to Improve Early Education Facilities