![\"Derrick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/c4cbcf99-b4dd-4861-9464-3a8a03d446be-5cfea0bc3a9a4a5a9b16ece0020ba23c.png\")
<\/p>\nA strong team can make a big difference, both on the field and in the community.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Derrick Johnson\u2019s Defend the Dream Foundation supports Austin kids on and off the field<\/p>\n
Football legend, author and Defend the Dream <\/a>Foundation founder Derrick Johnson returned to We Are Austin to chat with Sierra Waggoner and share how his organization is helping local children through education, literacy and access to resources.<\/p>\n Football legend, author and Defend the Dream Foundation founder Derrick Johnson returned to We Are Austin to chat with Sierra Waggoner and share how his organization is helping local children through education, literacy and access to resources.<\/p>\n \u201cDefend the Dream Foundation<\/a> caters to inner-city kids through education,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe go to low-income areas, Title I elementary schools. We do library makeovers.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson said the foundation\u2019s work is rooted in the belief that literacy can help create opportunities for children to reach their full potential.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know education starts from literacy and starts from getting up on their reading levels,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIt\u2019s all about literacy and being able to give them the proper resources so they can reach their full potential at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning school libraries into places kids want to learn<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s passion for education started at home. His mother was a schoolteacher for more than 40 years and instilled in him the importance of education from an early age.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever you want to be in life, education is the key,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cEspecially if you\u2019re in a low-income area.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe used to have one every semester,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cNow, since we\u2019re raising more funds, we get to do two a semester. The more we raise, the more we push out into the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Through its library makeover program, Defend the Dream transforms spaces at local elementary schools with fresh designs, functional furniture and more than 1,000 new, age-appropriate books.<\/p>\n The foundation is preparing to expand that impact even further. Johnson said two additional library makeovers are planned for November, which will bring the total number completed in Austin to 10.<\/p>\n \u201cWe used to have one every semester,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cNow, since we\u2019re raising more funds, we get to do two a semester. The more we raise, the more we push out into the community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Super DJ\u2019 helps kids discover their own strengths<\/p>\n Johnson and his wife, Brittany, are also sharing those lessons through their children\u2019s book, \u201cSuper DJ Saves Field Day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Super DJ\u2019 helps kids discover their own strengths<\/p>\n The story follows a dad who becomes a superhero and helps children discover that they have their own unique superpowers.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody\u2019s best looks a little different,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cYou just got to control what you can control, and they can be really, really successful in life.\u201d<\/p>\n Celebrity Waiter Night raises $680,000<\/p>\n Defend the Dream is also bringing the Austin community together to help fund its work.<\/p>\n The foundation\u2019s inaugural Celebrity Waiter Night put a playful spin on fundraising by asking familiar faces to trade their usual uniforms and professions for aprons and serve guests for the evening.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all about being able to use your platform in a way that helps others,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know education starts from literacy and starts from getting up on their reading levels,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIt\u2019s all about literacy and being able to give them the proper resources so they can reach their full potential at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n The first event raised $680,000 for the foundation, and Johnson said the goal for the next Celebrity Waiter Night is to raise even more.<\/p>\n \u201cI smile every time I think about it,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe had a lot of fun. We had too much fun that night.\u201d<\/p>\n As Defend the Dream continues expanding its work across Austin, Johnson is encouraging the community to get involved and help the organization reach even more children.<\/p>\n Watch the interview above to hear more from Derrick Johnson and learn how Defend the Dream Foundation<\/a> is using education and literacy to help Austin kids reach their full potential.<\/p>\n Head to derrickjohnsonfoundation.org to learn more!<\/p>\n![\"Football](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/b62b6fe8-8dad-43b9-b20d-2b2d32f98e67-Image20.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\u201cWe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/85f25219-4784-47bb-bc1c-3dd4da7b0ba6-1d17f41c2e5c4beda53c5ca3d3e75ec8.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"{p}\u2018Super](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/14ab880a-2524-45ff-a863-3651f3e77733-c44134bf99634b0aa7cdd7d7994d8928.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"{p}\u201cWe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/8495d4f5-72a1-4f48-b9c4-49f33f13d148-d0d11bd81e684c9b80825db8801757a1.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Head](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/aa2fcac1-a9b4-4ffe-a00b-1be2cde6db45-71e78d6de1b447b68a7ac57f5c24f98c.png\")
<\/p>\n