The Rocket Mortgage Classic, in partnership with its title sponsor Rocket Mortgage, plans a new “Changing the Course” initiative – a multi-year campaign with a vision that every Detroit resident has access to the internet, technology and digital literacy training within five years.
The COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on a number of unaddressed underlying issues in Detroit – internet accessibility being one of the most severe. The vision of “Changing the Course” has an end goal of a Detroit where every resident has access to the technology, internet and digital literacy that is the baseline for education and opportunity in today’s economy. The Rocket Giving Fund, the tournament’s 501(c)3, will invest funds in organizations and infrastructure that seek to ensure 5G internet technology becomes available across Detroit.
“As we witnessed the heartbreaking toll that COVID-19 has had on our city, we knew we had to use the Rocket Mortgage Classic as a driver of lasting change,” said Jay Farner, CEO of Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans. “In talking to leaders and partners throughout the city, the issue of internet accessibility always came back to the top. Kids are falling behind because they can’t get to school, parents cannot search for jobs, and families were unable to get needed telemedicine. Detroiters deserve better.”
Detroit currently ranks as the least connected city (more than 100,000 households) in America, with nearly 30% of its homes without broadband of any type. What once was considered digital currency reserved for the elite and early adopters is today the root essential need to survive and thrive in our modern economy. The Rocket Mortgage Classic wants to be a launch-point to help solve the digital divide. Details and a roadmap to accomplish this multi-year plan will be released to the public when finalized.
“When we announced the tournament’s new date (to July 2-5), we said that we were flipping this event on its head,” said Jason Langwell, Executive Director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “Once out of the gate, our mindset for the 2020 event has been centered on how we can set the standard for how a PGA TOUR event can galvanize an entire community to assist at-need populations.”
More information is available at RocketMortgageClassic.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@RocketClassic).
