Mike Palmer Named BYA Champion

At its Annual Meeting on October 9, Birmingham Youth Assistance (BYA) selected local businessman Mike Palmer as its first annual BYA Champion. BYA is a community-based non-profit that seeks to prevent and reduce juvenile delinquency, child abuse, and child neglect in the area. It provides free counseling services to children and families who live within the boundaries of the Birmingham Public School district. BYA also sponsors positive family events including Breakfast with Santa, the Kids’ Dog Show, Youth in Service Appreciation, and Touch-a-Truck. Mike Palmer is a strong supporter of BYA and volunteers countless hours of his time to support its programs, particularly the Kids’ Dog Show. Mike also gives generously to fund BYA endeavors. In 2014 alone, his direct and in-kind support of the Kids’ Dog Show added up to nearly $2,000.

Mike is a very successful businessman. His enterprise, Premier Pet Supply in Beverly Hills, has won several regional awards as the best pet store in southeast Michigan and is one of the highest-volume independently owned pet stores in the Midwest. In 2012, Mike was recognized by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson as one of his “Elite 40 Under 40”. As impressive as these achievements are, what inspires BYA about Mike is his heart. He never stops giving back to the community.

Mike hosts weekly adoption events at Premier Pet Supply with several rescue groups, and in the past decade has helped facilitate the adoption of over 3,000 cats and dogs. In 2010, he partnered with a 9-year old who wanted to help families that could not afford to feed their pets. Together, they created the Birmingham Pet Pantry that has to date collected over 20,000 lbs. of food for distribution through Gleaners Community Food Bank and the Michigan Animal Care Network. In addition to his commitment to animals, many of Mike’s community contributions revolve around the area’s youth. He speaks at schools on a regular basis to educate children about pet care, and has spoken to kids at numerous career day events about owning a business. Premier Pet Supply works with Birmingham Public Schools to employ two autistic part-time employees and has a Premier Pet Volunteer program in which elementary school students rotate monthly to volunteer at the store.

BYA is a partnership of the Oakland County Circuit Court Family Division, the Birmingham School District, the City of Birmingham, and the Villages of Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, and Franklin. In addition to professional counseling of referred youth and families, BYA offers community and school initiatives such as parenting education programs, camp scholarships, youth mentoring, and school programs that help prevent juvenile delinquency. All of the BYA programs and family events are offered through the coordination of a group of passionate volunteers. To get involved or to learn more about BYA, visit www.birminghamyouthassistance.org or call (248) 203-4300.

Ann Nazareth Manning Correspondent