- Charitable proceeds from PGA TOUR’s most-awarded event to end digital divide in Detroit by 2025
- COVID-19 pandemic highlighted disparity in access to technology, reducing opportunities for education, healthcare, employment, and other areas
DETROIT (May 20, 2020) – The Rocket Mortgage Classic, in partnership with its title sponsor Rocket Mortgage, today unveiled their 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 they deserve 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” is 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 501(c)3 that organizes and presents the tournament, 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.
“Addressing this systemic, generational issue that Detroiters have been facing since the inception of the internet, is the kind of greater mission we targeted the moment we learned that the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic was moving forward. We thank our community partners and key leaders who have assisted us in honing our strategy to make a tangible impact for the better.”
This digital divide has never been more prominent than during the COVID-19 crisis, but Detroit has experienced challenges with digital access for decades. 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. Lack of access reduces opportunities for education, housing, employment, health care and civic engagement that can so easily be taken for granted by people who have the ability to get online.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic serves as a launch-point to help solve the digital divide. This includes being a vehicle for awareness, fundraising opportunities and creative problem-solving to address the needs of households who do not have access to broadband internet. In the coming weeks, details and a roadmap to accomplish this multi-year plan will be released to the public.
“When we announced the tournament’s new date, 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.”
In 2019, the Rocket Mortgage Classic raised more than $1.2 million in support of nonprofit organizations, with $1.1 million being directly invested in the city of Detroit. It also won three “Best Of” awards in its inaugural year from the PGA TOUR, including the “Fair Way Award” for its diversity and inclusion initiatives, making it the most-awarded event on the TOUR.
Rocket Mortgage, and the affiliated companies that comprise the Rock Family of Companies, have been active in supporting the Detroit community since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the Rock Family of Companies has directed more than $6 million through procurement initiatives, partnerships, philanthropic investments and logistical support in its hometown. Additionally, Rock Connections supports the City of Detroit’s COVID-19 testing site near the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s venue by offering the services of its call center, and created the appointment software that serves up to 1,000 people per day.
Changing the Course is a continuation of the Rock Family of Companies’ commitment toward technological initiatives and digital innovation. The Quicken Loans Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation recently partnered with the Detroit Public Schools’ for the “Connected Futures Project,” aiming to provide all enrolled DPSCD students with tablets and internet access. All technology used by the Rock Family of Companies gets recycled through Human IT, which redistributes it to Detroit organizations and family who needs it. The Quicken Loans Community Fund has also invested and provided skill-based volunteer opportunities for team members to help 100 small businesses stand up website or grow their online presence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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About the Rocket Mortgage Classic
The Rocket Mortgage Classic made history in 2019 as the first PGA TOUR event ever held in the city of Detroit, and Nate Lashley added to the historic feel of the week by winning for the first time on the PGA TOUR and becoming the tournament’s inaugural champion. Embodying the spirit of Detroit, the week-long event featured great entertainment, cuisine and social activities on and off the course. The Rocket Mortgage Classic was the most awarded event during the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season, being recognized for “Best Special Event” (the AREA 313 Celebrity Challenge) and “Best Tournament Sales” as well as being honored with the first “Fair Way Award” for its diversity and inclusion initiatives. The Rocket Giving Fund is the primary charitable beneficiary of the tournament and will support many local charities. More information is available at RocketMortgageClassic.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@RocketClassic).
About Quicken Loans / Rocket Mortgage
Detroit-based Quicken Loans is the nation’s largest home mortgage lender. The company closed nearly half a trillion dollars of mortgage volume across all 50 states from 2013 through 2018. In late 2015 Quicken Loans introduced Rocket Mortgage, the first fully digital mortgage experience. Today, 98% of all home loans originated by Quicken Loans utilize Rocket Mortgage Technology.
Quicken Loans moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010. Today, Quicken Loans and its Family of Companies employ more than 17,000 full-time team members in Detroit’s urban core. The company generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Phoenix. Quicken Loans also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction for primary mortgage origination by J.D. Power for the past ten consecutive years, 2010 – 2019, and also ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers the past six consecutive years, 2014 – 2019.
Quicken Loans was once again named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 2019 and has been included in the magazine’s top 1/3rd of companies named to the list for the past 16 consecutive years. In addition, Essence Magazine named Quicken Loans “#1 Place to Work in the Country for African Americans.”
