Jimmy Wayne and Meet Me Halfway Campaign

Life is often referred to as a journey. We choose to walk down certain roads and hope we go the right way, do the right thing. Some times along the way, we face obstacles and just hope we find the strength to forge on.

For Jimmy Wayne his life has not been an easy journey. He survived an abusive and turbulent childhood, one that no child should have to endure. With a father who abandoned the family and a mother in prison, Jimmy then survived and escaped from a stepfather who tried to kill him. Jimmy was homeless and become lost in the foster system; he was shuffled to a series of foster homes. He became very independent relying on wit, determination and spirit to live from day-to-day.

As a homeless teen, he found a home - and hope - with a couple from North Carolina, Russell and Beatrice Costner. Although the Costners were an older couple, they took a risk with Jimmy, took him in and gave him a second chance at life. In addition to providing a stable family environment, they encouraged Jimmy and his love of music. Jimmy remembers writing and singing all genres of music; he loved it all…country, rock, opera, rap. Then, as a senior in high school, he was moved by a performance of a convict from a local prison. The prisoner told his story through a country song – the music touched the audience; and Jimmy knew then he wanted to be a country singer. Jimmy also wanted to move people with his music and his story.

On a Sunday morning in 1998, he moved to Nashville – Jimmy started down a new road on his life’s journey…he started down the road of his dreams. Fast forward ten years, Jimmy released “Do you Believe Me Now” and it soared to the top of the charts, was No. 1 for three weeks and became one of the biggest hits of 2008-2009. In 2009 he toured with Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley and lived to the fullest playing in iconic places such as Madison Square Gardens. It was after this tour that Jimmy decided to embark on a life-changing crusade.

In late autumn of 2009, he recalls relaxing in his house and a feeling of guilt overcame him. He remembered his feelings from his earlier life of being without a family, without a home and without hope. So, he began Project Meet Me Halfway to raise awareness of the plight of homeless youth and young adults. As someone that faced the same dead end roads, Jimmy is determined to help these kids, especially those who are aging out of the foster system and have absolutely nothing.

Project Meet Me Halfway kicked-off on January 1, 2010, and is a 1,700-mile trek that Jimmy is walking from Nashville to Phoenix. In speaking with Jimmy, I was amazed at his positive attitude and persevering spirit. I asked him, what is the most difficult aspect of this crusade? And, without hesitation, he said the loneliness; he then followed up by saying that he also has an on-going battle against blisters on his feet. However, he didn’t state this in a complaining sort of way. He said that this was his way of giving back and raising awareness for those who grow up like he did.

Jimmy’s voice lights up when he talks about the best part of his trek…the people he is meeting along the way. He remembers names and towns – Justin Jackson, the Warren Family, Gary Luftman, Lt. Col. Jason Garkey. He loves small town America and the hospitality he has received in places like Dixon, Tennessee; Caddo, Arkansas; and Tuscahoma, Oklahoma.

Meet Me Halfway is raising awareness and raising funds for two worthy organizations: Monroe Harding in Nashville, and Home Base Youth Services in Phoenix. Monroe Harding partners with at-risk youth and families to provide a bridge toward independence and success. Home Base Youth Services address the growing needs of at-risk and homeless youth age 21 and younger. The programs and services offer real life solutions to the physical, mental and emotional abuse and neglect these youth have suffered.

Jimmy firmly believes in the mission of these two organizations. They address and target the needs of the kids and young adults aging out of the foster system. The facts are bleak for this group - more than 20% of young adults aging out of the system experience homelessness. Jimmy humbly says how lucky he is to have escaped this world - every one of his foster brothers is either in jail or dead.

We all must work together to reduce the number of young people aging out of the foster system and to greatly improve the outcomes of those youth that do age out. We must unite with Jimmy to help make a difference in the lives of these kids. We must help to make a light at the end of the tunnel so these “lost kids” can find a way out and end the cycle of homelessness.