Faculty Agenda

Jimmy Wayne is a former foster child turned award-winning country music artist whose songs and story highlight his mission to raise awareness for children in foster care. Jimmy’s hits include “Stay Gone,” “Paper Angels,” which earned the Salvation Army’s William Booth Award, “I Love You This Much,” and “Do You Believe Me Now,” which earned BMI’s prestigious Million-Air Award for receiving one million radio spins in America.

In 2009, Jimmy toured with Brad Paisley and recorded “Sara Smile” with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo Daryl Hall and John Oates.

In 2010, Jimmy walked halfway across America (from Nashville to Phoenix) to raise awareness for kids aging out of the foster-care system. In 2012, Jimmy helped get legislative bills passed extending the age of foster care to 21 in California, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

In 2014, he released Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way, a three-time New York Times bestseller.

Jimmy’s third book, Ruby the Foster Dog, was released on November 1, 2017 (Broadstreet Publishing).

In 2016, he received the prestigious Points of Light award from President George H.W. Bush (41), and in 2017, he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from William Woods University. In 2018, he received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Cal State University San Marcos.

In 2019, he was honored by the National Council for Adoption with the Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux Award in recognition of his continued commitment to creating positive change in the lives of children in foster care who need permanent families.

Jimmy has performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage 224 times. He lives in Nashville and continues to work tirelessly on behalf of at-risk foster youth by performing, writing books, and keynote speaking.

To find out more about Jimmy and his awareness campaign for foster children, Project Meet Me Halfway, please visit: www.projectmmh.org