FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Palmer Home for Children Announces Retirement of President and  CEO Drake Bassett 

LAKE CORMORANT, Miss. — Palmer Home for Children today announced that  President and CEO Drake Bassett will retire in early 2027 after 15 years of  service to one of the nation’s oldest organizations dedicated to caring for  children and families in need.

Bassett will remain with the organization through the transition while the  Palmer Home Board of Directors conducts a search for the organization’s  next president and CEO.

“We are grateful for Drake’s remarkable leadership, which has helped to  grow our organization and positioned us for our next chapter,” said Amy  Brown, chair of the Palmer Home Board of Directors. “His vision, compassion  and commitment to Palmer Home’s mission have made a lasting impact on  those we serve.”

Bassett joined Palmer Home in 2012 after more than two decades in  corporate leadership. A defining milestone of Bassett’s tenure was the  development of Palmer Home’s Lake Cormorant campus and the opening of  its $8.2 million Wellness Center in 2022. The 25,000-square-foot facility  brought together residential care with expanded educational, counseling,  recreational and family-support resources designed to meet the academic,  emotional, physical and relational needs of children in Palmer Home’s care.

Bassett also helped guide the organization during a time when serving  children and families required increasing coordination, resources and  community support. Under his leadership, Palmer Home continued to build  relationships with donors, community partners and supporters across the  country while remaining grounded in its longstanding mission of providing  healing, stability and hope.

“It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve Palmer Home,”  Bassett said. “What I will carry with me most are the relationships—with the  children and families we serve, the staff who show up for them every day,  and the donors and partners who make this work possible. I am proud of  how Palmer Home has grown during my time here, and I am even more  encouraged by the strength of the organization and the opportunities  ahead.”

Bassett’s retirement will allow him to spend more time with his wife, Kelley,  their four children and five grandchildren.

The Board will launch a comprehensive search for Palmer Home’s next  president and CEO and will oversee the transition process.

"We are moving forward with a thoughtful transition schedule in place and a  clear strategic plan for Palmer Home's future," said Brown. "We look forward  to welcoming a leader who will build on this strong foundation, and we  remain as committed as ever to helping hope grow."

About Palmer Home for Children 

Palmer Home for Children is a privately-funded, Christian, nonprofit  organization that has provided superior care to vulnerable children for more  than 131 years. Palmer Home provides Campus Care, Foster Care, Family  Care and Transitional Care to meet the specific needs of each child and  family. The Whole Child Initiative, Palmer Home’s approach to care,  emphasizes child development by focusing on five components: social  wellbeing, physical development, emotional healing, educational support,  and spiritual growth. For more information, visit www.palmerhome.org.

Media Contact: 

Meg Oakes

Phone: 1-601-500-1592

Email: meg@redwindowcommunications.com