Defend the Dream Foundation’s Inaugural Derrick Johnson Celebrity Waiter Night
Former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker and University of Texas football legend Derrick Johnson will host his inaugural Derrick Johnson Celebrity Waiter Night on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin. Presented by H-E-B and Favor, the event benefits Johnson’s Defend the Dream Foundation, founded in 2012 to support low-income and inner-city youth through literacy and education programs. Johnson will be joined by Mack Brown, Chris Del Conte, Vince Young and others for an unforgettable evening where they trade the spotlight for aprons in support of the cause.
Proceeds will help transform school libraries into engaging DJ’s Discovery Dens, a program that has already renovated 16 Kansas City libraries and donated more than 25,000 books. Since expanding to Texas in 2022, the foundation has partnered with the Austin Ed Fund to update Austin ISD Title I elementary libraries, investing $60,000 per campus and completing seven Discovery Dens that impact more than 2,800 students each year. The next site, Overton Elementary, will be completed in May 2026.
Derrick Johnson's Celebrity Waiter Night brings together notable figures from sports and entertainment for an elegant night of dining and philanthropy, celebrating community and education while raising funds to support students served by Defend the Dream Foundation.
Event Links
Sponsor: https://go.evvnt.com/3446114-0
