Dickey Foundation’s 5th Annual Denim & Diamonds Raises $250,000 to Support First Responders Nationwide

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 29, 2026--

Boots, barbecue and big-hearted giving took center stage on Thursday, Oct. 22 as The Dickey Foundation, the charitable arm of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, brought the Dallas community together for its fifth annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser. Hosted at On The Levee in the Dallas Design District, the event raised $250,000 to support the safety, wellness and resilience of first responders across the country.

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The evening welcomed Dallas-area supporters, first responders and community members for a memorable night of Texas barbecue, live entertainment, auctions and local performances, all in honor of the men and women who protect and serve communities nationwide. Guests enjoyed live music from ’90s country band Western Rewind, the signature Champagne Diamond Bar, a raffle and silent auction, and a special performance by the Lake Highlands Wildcat Wranglers Dance Team.

This year’s fundraiser held special significance as Dickey’s Barbecue Pit celebrates its 85th anniversary, marking 85 years since the family-founded brand first opened its doors in Dallas in 1941. From its hometown beginnings to serving communities across the country, Dickey’s has remained rooted in the Texas tradition of bringing people together around great barbecue and a shared commitment to giving back.

“Our family’s Denim and Diamonds event was especially meaningful as this year Dickey’s celebrates 85 years since its founding in Dallas in 1941,” said Roland Dickey Jr. CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group. “Our history is rooted in this community, and we believe that being part of a community means investing in the people who help it thrive.”

The Dickey Foundation directs its efforts toward equipping, protecting and supporting first responders through essential safety equipment, protective armor, rescue gear and financial assistance. To date, the Foundation has raised and donated more than $1 million to support first responders nationwide.

For more information about The Dickey Foundation and how to support its mission, visit www.thedickeyfoundation.org.

To learn more, follow Dickey’s on Facebook, Instagram. Download the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The Dickey Foundation

Formerly known as Barbecue, Boots & Badges, The Dickey Foundation is the charitable arm of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Dedicated to supporting first responders across the United States, the Foundation provides essential safety equipment, protective armor, rescue gear, and financial support to enhance the safety and well-being of those who risk their lives to protect their communities. By partnering with local franchisees and communities nationwide, The Dickey Foundation works tirelessly to ensure first responders have the tools and resources they need to keep us all safe. For more information or to get involved, visit www.thedickeyfoundation.org.

About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the world’s largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by World War I Veteran, Travis Dickey. For the past 85 years, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests Legit. Texas. Barbecue.™ alongside their iconic Big Yellow Cup. The Dallas-based, family-founded barbecue franchise serves slow-smoked meats and home-style sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included for dine-in, drive-thru (select locations) and pick-up ‘Cue the catering experts at Dickey’s by dialing the Catering Hotline at +1-866-227-2328 or visiting Dickey’s website to order or get a quote. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

A member of the Lake Highlands Wildcat Wranglers Dance Team performs during The Dickey Foundation’s fifth annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser at On The Levee in Dallas on October 22, 2026.

Western Rewind performs live at The Dickey Foundation’s fifth annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser at On The Levee in Dallas on October 22, 2026. The event featured live entertainment, Texas barbecue and auctions to benefit first responder safety, wellness and resilience initiatives nationwide as Dickey’s Barbecue Pit celebrates its 85th anniversary.

Former Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey, founder of The Dickey Foundation, presents a map illustrating the impact of funds raised to support first responders during the Foundation’s fifth annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser in Dallas on October 22, 2026.

Roland Dickey Jr. and his wife, Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., attend The Dickey Foundation’s fifth annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser in Dallas on October 22, 2026. Together, they carry forward the family’s 85-year legacy rooted in Dallas and a shared commitment to giving back.

CHICAGO (AP) — This new addition for the Monsters of the Midway certainly lives up to the nickname.

The Chicago Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in a blockbuster trade with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.

The Bears sent their first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, along with a fourth-rounder in next year's draft, to the Titans for Simmons and a fifth-round selection in 2028.

“Jeffery has proven to be one of the most impactful run defenders and disruptive pass-rushers in the NFL," Bears coach Ben Johnson said in a release, “and yet, through his leadership, Jeffery will have the opportunity to create a positive impact across our entire team.”

Led by Caleb Williams, Chicago has won two in a row to improve to 5-2 going into Monday night's game at Seattle. It is chasing the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North, and the addition of Simmons bolsters what had been a questionable defensive line.

The 29-year-old Simmons has four sacks in seven games this season. He leads all defensive tackles with 28 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats, and he is the only player in the league who has earned three sacks against double teams.

“Jeff has been an elite player here in this organization, both on and off the field,” Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said. “My respect and admiration for him is probably more than any player I’ve really been around. Just to see the work that he puts in every day, his leadership here the past year and a half that I’ve been here. These are tough decisions.”

The Bears won the division last year for the first time since 2018, finishing with an 11-6 record in Johnson’s first season in charge. They advanced in the playoffs by edging the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card game before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the divisional round.

The pricey trade for Simmons is another signal that Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles think the team has what it takes to win the franchise's first Super Bowl title since the 1985 season.

Asked Wednesday about his role with the NFL trade deadline coming up on Nov. 10, Johnson said there was “a lot going on.”

“That’s certainly Ryan’s domain, and yet we have constant dialogue of what this team needs and where we can impact ourselves not just this year but years in the future as well,” Johnson said. “He’s turning over every stone that he possibly can to improve this football team just like he has ever since I’ve gotten in this building and I feel really good about our process. We’ll see what happens.”

Tennessee is 1-6 going into Sunday’s game at Cincinnati. It went 3-14 each of the previous two seasons, and it hasn’t had a winning record since it went 12-5 in 2021.

“No one’s shopping any of our guys, but like I told our guys, when you don’t close out games and you’re standing here at 1-6, teams are going to start fishing,” Titans coach Robert Saleh said. “And eventually a team threw a hook big enough that I don’t think any of us could have said no to.”

Simmons was selected by the Titans in the first round of the 2019 draft out of Mississippi State, where he was teammates with Bears defensive end Montez Sweat. Simmons appeared in nine games as a rookie, making seven starts and finishing with two sacks.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, Simmons has turned into one of the NFL's top interior defensive linemen. He was a first-team All-Pro selection last year, when he had a career-high 11 sacks in 15 games.

The four-time Pro Bowler signed a contract extension in June that reportedly covered three years and included $100 million guaranteed.

“Each and every day I wake up, my goal is to just be where my feet are at,” Simmons said Wednesday when asked about the possibility of being traded, “never looking ahead right now, it’s just be in the moment, and that’s from each and every day, from game day, my goal just never changes. I don’t worry about the things I can’t control. Them types of things are a distraction.”

AP freelance reporter Teresa M. Walker contributed to this report.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

FILE - Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) celebrates a sack during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger, File)

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) sacks Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) sacks Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, below, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (10) dives past Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Winston Jr. (23) and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/John Amis)