Balloon & Wine Festival News Flash: The Festival will place empty wine barrels in the concert area for donations to Jimmy Wayne's campaign: “Meet Me Halfway: Raising Awareness of Homeless Teens and Foster Children.”

TEMECULA, CA – The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival is rolling out “barrels for the cause” and country music star Jimmy Wayne June 4-6, 2010. Wayne, performing at the annual Festival June 4, is the National celebrity spokesperson for FosterClub. The Festival will place empty wine barrels in the concert area for donations to Jimmy Wayne's campaign: “Meet Me Halfway: Raising Awareness of Homeless Teens and Foster Children.”

In January, Wayne embarked on a 1,660 mile walk from Nashville, TN to Phoenix, AZ to increase public knowledge of homeless teens and foster children. Walking 25 miles a day, Jimmy fits his miles in between concerts, speaking with state governors and in Washington, D.C. He has walked 721 miles to date, with July as his target month for hitting Phoenix. Wayne’s walk and campaign has brought the plight of foster children who “age out” into the forefront as he Tweets his progress daily on twitter.

Nearly 20,000 foster care teens "age-out" of the foster care system each year, according to CharityGuide.org. Once they reach 18, their state and foster families are no longer required to give them assistance. They are left to fend for themselves.

One-hundred percent of the donations made to the barrels will go to the “Meet Me Halfway” charity. To learn more visit: meetmehalfway.jimmywayne.com

Wayne performs Friday, June 4, at the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival. Wayne’s career first took off with a remake of Hall & Oates’ pop classic “Sara Smile.” His debut CD appeared in 2003 and produced the top-10 hits “Stay Gone and “I Love You This Much.” Wayne’s 2008-09 hit “Do You Believe Me Now” remained No. 1 for three weeks.

The Band Perry and Bomshel will also be in concert Friday as part of the Country Friday lineup. The Band Perry currently has their hit song “Hip to My Heart” at #24 on the Billboard Country Song Chart, and has spent 22 weeks on the charts.

Saturday’s concerts include Paul Rodgers, Vertical Horizon and the Gin Blossoms. Sunday’s featurese smooth jazz mega stars Spyro Gyra on the Wine Garden Stage and the WGAS Freestyle Motocross show on the main stage.

For 27 years this premier event has been charming guests with spectacular dawn hot air balloon launches, premium wine tasting from 22 wineries, gourmet wine and food pairing, evening concerts and evening balloon glows. For more information and tickets visit www.tvbwf.com or call (951) 676-6713.

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