As a proud partner to Thrive by Five Washington, Talaris Institute is both
a catalyst for and a communicator of the changes in knowledge, attitude,
skills, and systems that will be required to create a world of socially and emotionally healthy children who are ready to learn and relate to others,
as well as world of confident, capable parents nurturing the potential
within each child.



Thrive by Five was forged out of a shared understanding among Washington business leaders, government officials, and private philanthropists – that every child must be given the opportunity, from birth, to be successful in school and in life.

In January 2006, Talaris Institute along with other key organizations* agreed to jointly fund and coordinate a long-term public-private partnership known as Thrive by Five: the Washington Early Learning Fund. Graciela Italiano-Thomas was named President and CEO of Thrive by Five in October 2006.

Thrive by Five is working hard to accomplish four main objectives:

1. Build and sustain high-quality early learning models in two diverse Washington communities - Yakima and White Center.
2. Give support to existing local, community-driven early learning efforts that are already doing a great job of preparing children to succeed in school and life.
3. Increase public understanding of, and support for, quality early learning, and in turn broaden the number of partners that want to invest, act as advocates and bring new voices to the early learning field.
4. Provide parents with information about the quality of care they should expect and demand for their children, promote resources and learning opportunities for parents, and support systems that do likewise.

*Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, State of Washington, Boeing, Social Venture Partners, Foundation for Early Learning, Ginger & Barry Ackerley Foundation, Lockheed Martin Information Technology, Kirlin Charitable Foundation, The Medina Foundation, United Way, Boeing, Safeco, Wells Fargo, Social Venture Partners and other important Washington state investors.