Drake Bassett, the president and CEO of Palmer Home for Children, has announced he will retire after nearly 15 years with the nonprofit that provides campus care, foster care, and transitional services to Mississippi children in need.
“For nearly 15 years, it’s been a pleasure and a real privilege to be a leader for Palmer Home for Children,” Bassett said in a video announcement Thursday. “That season is coming to a close, and Palmer Home is going to embrace the next chapter.”
Founded in Columbus in 1895, Palmer Home began as a safe haven for orphaned children before expanding its mission to provide campus care, family care, foster care, and transitional services for children from birth through age 24.
During Bassett’s tenure, the nonprofit underwent significant growth and change. In 2019, Palmer Home’s board of trustees voted to consolidate operations on a single campus in Lake Cormorant.
Since then, the Lake Cormorant campus has continued to expand, including the addition of the $8.2 million Dr. Hugh Francis Jr. Wellness Center in 2022.
In 2023, Palmer Home School opened, providing tailored education for children who have experienced trauma, adversity, or academic setbacks.
Bassett credited those accomplishments not to his own leadership, but to the organization’s Christian-based mission and the continued support of the community.
“Children come from so many different situations – difficult situations,” Bassett said. “So, we constantly look at a child’s need. We look at their story and that has created a change at Palmer Home.”
He said that approach has shaped the organization’s focus on caring for the whole child, including their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.
“It caused us to create programs that we believe are extremely encouraging and helpful to children,” Bassett said. “It caused us to build a school when we felt like there were children who were behind the curve and needed one-on-one attention. It caused us to produce new services and, of course, it encouraged us to build new homes on our campus and most recently the wellness center that allows us to bring children, families, and our staff together in one place.”
Bassett said his retirement will take place sometime in early 2027, allowing him to work alongside the next president and CEO selected by the board of trustees.
Although he will leave his leadership role, Bassett said he plans to remain involved with Palmer Home as a supporter.
“As I move from operational leader to number one fan,” he said with a smile. “I think I’ll be in good company. Everything that we’ve talked about, you have done with us. … And so, yes, I join your ranks (as a supporter), and I look forward to that because that is an opportunity.
“Together, we can continue to pull, to pray, and to work together for all the good that Palmer Home can do. I believe there’s a bright future for Palmer Home, and I look forward to being a part of it – just in a different capacity.”
News director’s note: SuperTalk Mississippi Media named Palmer Home for Children its charity of choice in 2013, establishing an annual radiothon to support the nonprofit, which does not accept state or federal funding. Since then, STMM has helped raise more than $3 million for Palmer Home.