Derrick Johnson Hosts Successful Celebrity Waiter Night, Raising Over $650K for AISD Students

Austin mayor declares 'Derrick Johnson Day' after the event's impressive fundraising efforts.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Longhorn legend Derrick Johnson hosted his first annual Celebrity Waiter Night in Austin, Texas, a fundraiser for his Defend The Dream Foundation. The event, held at the Four Seasons Hotel, featured a star-studded lineup of celebrity waiters from the worlds of Longhorn athletics, entertainment, and culinary arts, raising over $650,000 to support the foundation's mission of improving literacy and renovating school libraries in the Austin Independent School District.

Why it matters

Defend The Dream Foundation's work is crucial in supporting underprivileged students in the Austin area, helping to increase their access to books and foster a love of learning. The success of the Celebrity Waiter Night event highlights the community's commitment to investing in the education and futures of local youth.

The details

The event featured a star-studded lineup of celebrity waiters, including former Texas coach Mack Brown, numerous former Longhorn players such as Michael Huff, Michael Griffin, Jamaal Charles, and more, as well as recent alumni like 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins and Saints linebacker Jaylan Ford. Current Longhorns players also participated, including Hero Kanu, Jelani McDonald, and Markus Boswell. They were joined by other notable figures like UT basketball legend T.J. Ford, former World Series MVP David Freese, NFL super agent David Mulugheta, and WWE Superstar Mark Henry.

  • The event was held on February 22, 2026.
  • Austin Mayor Kirk Watson declared February 22 'Derrick Johnson Day' in the city.

The players

Derrick Johnson

A Longhorn legend and former NFL player who founded the Defend The Dream Foundation, which performs library makeovers for Title I elementary schools in the Austin Independent School District.

Mack Brown

Former head coach of the Texas Longhorns football team.

Alfred Collins

A 49ers defensive tackle and former Longhorns player.

Jaylan Ford

A Saints linebacker and former Longhorns player.

Kirk Watson

The mayor of Austin, Texas.

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What they’re saying

“Tonight is a little more nerve-racking than a football game to me, because there's a lot of things I can't control. When I'm on the field, I can't control everything, but I'm in my box and there's a lot more I can control. But being able to serve at a high level means the world to me, and in these moments I'm reminded why I do what I do. It's because of the kids — it's bigger than football at the end of the day.”

— Derrick Johnson (Inside Texas)

“Derrick Johnson was undoubtedly the best linebacker I'd ever seen or coached, but what's even more impressive is that he's a better person than he was as a player.”

— Mack Brown, Former Texas Coach (Inside Texas)

What’s next

The Defend The Dream Foundation plans to increase the pace of its library makeovers from one per semester to two per semester, thanks to the overwhelming support generated at the Celebrity Waiter Night event.

The takeaway

Derrick Johnson's commitment to supporting education and literacy in the Austin community, as demonstrated by the success of the Celebrity Waiter Night fundraiser, is a testament to the power of athletes using their platform to make a positive impact on the lives of young people.