Upon moving back to Texas, former NFL player and Texas Longhorn legend Derrick Johnson expanded the Defend the Dream Foundation to Austin in 2022. Originally established by Johnson in 2012 during his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs to serve the Kansas City area, the organization provides low-income and underserved youth with opportunities and resources to support their academic achievement and personal development.
In support of the foundation's local outreach, the first-ever Celebrity Waiter Night was held on February 22, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel, raising over $690,000 for Defend the Dream. The event featured numerous celebrity waiters, including former and current Longhorn athletes, entertainment personalities, and culinary professionals.
Since its inception in Austin, Defend the Dream has partnered with the Austin Ed Fund to update libraries in AISD Title I elementary schools. The foundation invested $60,000 into each school library makeover by donating paint and graphics, new flexible furniture, and 1,000 new books to update the current collection and better reflect the diverse student population.
In the last four years, seven Discovery Dens have been constructed in Austin schools, serving 2,800 students per year at Oak Springs, Langford, Pickle, Barbara Jordan, Zavala, Perez, and Palm elementary schools in the Austin Independent School District. Discovery Dens are modern, student-friendly library makeovers that combine a reading room and a creative learning space to help kids develop a stronger connection to education.
Guided by the core values of love, excellence, and purpose, the foundation promotes compassion and unity, strives for the highest standards of service and leadership, and encourages individuals to live with intention and make an impact. Together, these values shape its mission to uplift communities and inspire meaningful change.
For more information about the Derrick Johnson Defend the Dream Foundation, including ways to support their programs, visit https://derrickjohnsonfoundation.org/
