Palm Tree Foundation

The Palm Tree Foundation was founded on October 2, 2002 by Micheal J. Sykes, also known as “M.I.A.M.I. Mike”. The Palm Tree Foundation gives back to the community and the hard working people of the community such as teachers, ministry leaders, law enforcement, fire departments, and everyday hard-working people. The PTF has a Big Brother/Big Sister Mentoring Program for the youth. The PTF travels across the country visiting and speaking at various churches, schools, colleges and universities, and prisons providing words of encouragement through motivational speaking.

The organization provides scholarships for students and adults who want to go to college but could never afford it. The PTF also helps single mothers pay their home mortgages, lease, or rent. During the holiday season, The PTF gives toys to children for Christmas who may otherwise not receive anything, provides turkey and canned goods to families for Thanksgiving and Christmas, provides school clothes, shoes and school supplies for students and teacher supplies for the schools. The PTF also sponsors school baseball and softball teams.

Every year, the PTF holds FREE concerts, football camps and car shows for children 13 years old and under. The Deshea Townsend & Palm Tree Foundation Annual Indoor Celebrity Charity Car, Truck & Bike Show has been held every year for 8 years since 2010 in the hometown of CEO M.I.A.M.I. Mike, Batesville, MS. Celebrities such as Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Jerome Betis, Casey Hamilton, Plaxico Burgess, Willie Parker, Fred Thomas and Soulja Boy are just a few of many who bring their cars to the event so that the kids get a chance to meet them and have a first look at their exotic cars and trucks.

Music brings the world together and one of the dreams of the Palm Tree Foundation is to build and operate a music recording studio for young people who have dreams of expressing themselves through music but can’t afford to. We want to teach them how to be engineers or producers and develop the skills needed to be a singer or rapper. To qualify, a student must maintain at least a B average or better in all classes and have a passion for music. A member of the PTF will be in touch with the teachers, coaches and parents of students who have applied for verification and will arrange the dates and times for the child to record in the studio for free. If a student does not maintain a B average or better, but has improved over the course of the semester, we know that the student is trying to improve and will allow him or her the opportunity to record for free in our studio.

The Palm Tree Foundation wants to give back to the people of the community through music, education and sports. The best way to do this is through hands on involvement with everything the PTF has to offer. Everyone may not be able to afford to give donations, but as volunteers, you can give your time and help, which is more valuable than gold. Become a part of something great!