Jimmy Wayne is asking you to meet him halfway
January 1, 2010, 10:10am PST
(Sumaiya Malik, Good News Gazette) Country music recording artist Jimmy Wayne today launched his "Meet Me Halfway" campaign as he kicked off his solo walk halfway across America, from Nashville, Tennessee to Phoenix, Arizona -- a journey of almost 1,700 miles -- to raise both awareness and funding to benefit organizations that support homeless youth.
"I realize beginning a mission like this in the dead of winter and walking through the middle of the country is going to be difficult, but I hope and pray I am up to the challenge," Wayne said. "It’s going to be cold, rainy and maybe even snowing and that ground I sleep on at night is going to be really hard. But that’s what the homeless are dealing with each and every winter they go without a home of their own. Our country is too great for us to have people who are suffering so. And events of the past 12 to 14 months have increased the number of people—especially children and young adults—without a safe place to sleep. We as a nation have got to end homelessness and we've got to help these kids."
The cause of homeless and at-risk youth is near and dear to Wayne’s heart. He grew up in foster and group homes and was occasionally homeless himself. Bea and Russell Costner provided Wayne with a second chance when they took him in when Wayne was 16 years old. The generosity of this couple, who were in their 70s when they opened their door and hearts to Wayne, is something he will never forget.
"Bea and Russell took a chance on me, and I was certainly no poster child for adoption," Wayne said. "I was this teenager with long hair and tattoos, but they saw past that to the scared kid I was. They met me halfway by offering me a place to live and the opportunity to go back to school. But in turn I had to meet them halfway by helping myself, which meant studying, doing chores and following the rules. They provided me with a way to help myself make a life. They gave me a home, love and respect."
It is Wayne’s personal experience in finding the love and support he needed to get his life back on track that has inspired him to give back. And the rise in homelessness driven by the recession has created an even greater sense of urgency. "Because I was helped when I needed it, I want to try and help now," Wayne said. "If the bit of celebrity I have can help me raise awareness of this situation --that there are kids and young people out there who need our help, then I feel like I have accomplished my goal. I'm not asking people to come out and walk with me, but I am asking them to meet me halfway by getting involved-- donate money, adopt a kid, learn more about the foster child/foster parent program in your local community. There's so much one person can do, and so many ways they can make a difference. It just takes one person to help someone to a better life."
Wayne selected HomeBase Youth Services of Phoenix, AZ as the target recipient of any donations resulting from his efforts because of the work they do to teach at-risk and homeless youth how to become self-sufficient adults. 18-21. To find out more about the work they are doing or to make a donation, visit www.hbys.org. Visit JimmyWayne.com for additional information on "Meet Me Halfway."