Photo courtesy of Connect 313
The Rocket Mortgage Classic, in partnership with title sponsor Rocket Mortgage, today announced more than $1.35 million was raised by in 2021 through Detroit’s third-annual PGA TOUR event to support local nonprofits. The organizations also announced $805,000 of these funds were directed and invested with community partners supporting the event’s “Changing the Course” initiative, which is working to end Detroit’s digital divide.
Funds are disbursed by the Rocket Giving Fund, the 501(c)(3) host organization that manages the Rocket Mortgage Classic and whose mission is to host a world-class PGA TOUR event while simultaneously benefitting the Detroit community.
At the inception of the Changing the Course initiative through the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Detroit was rated the least connected large city in America. Through the hard work of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Rocket Mortgage, Microsoft, the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and many others, more and more Detroiters are gaining access to the internet. In 2020, roughly 40 percent of Detroit households were digitally included. Today that number has grown to 67.5 percent.
A digitally included household means at least one member in the household has a reliable broadband connection, a working non-smartphone computer/tablet and the knowledge of how to use it.
2021 Disbursements:
The following donations were made by the Rocket Giving Fund to organizations in support of its Changing the Course initiative:
- $700,000 to the Connect 313 Fund, developed by the Rocket Mortgage Classic in partnership with the City of Detroit, Microsoft and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan with engagement from community, philanthropic and business stakeholders.
- $100,000 to the Children’s Foundation, which supports pediatric research, education, community benefit programs and other initiatives that improve the health of children in Michigan. The Children’s Foundation acts as a fiduciary for Midnight Golf, Detroit Police Athletic League and First Tee Greater Detroit.
- These organizations received the following investments:
$40,000 to Midnight Golf - $30,000 to Detroit Police Athletic League
- $30,000 to First Tee Greater Detroit
- $5,000 to Human-I-T, an organization that creates equitable access to opportunity by providing devices, internet access, digital skills training and tech support for communities without connectivity resources.
“It is our passion to use Rocket Mortgage Classic as a force for change and an opportunity to bridge Detroit’s digital divide,” said Bob Walters, CEO of Rocket Mortgage. “The success of Changing the Course is measured by the number of Detroit families who are now able to access the internet as well as the brighter future digital inclusion provides. While we’ve already seen a near 70 percent improvement in the number of Detroiters with access to digital tools, we are driven even harder by this success to make an even greater impact through the 2022 event and beyond.”
The Rocket Giving Fund also made the following disbursements:
- $109,828 to the Greater Palmer Park Community, a collection of seven neighborhoods around Palmer Park and the Detroit Golf Club dedicated to the holistic improvement and advancement of the entire area.
- $437,169 to Birdies for Charity, a giving platform that utilizes the excitement around the Rocket Mortgage Classic to help nonprofit organizations raise awareness and funds to support their missions.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic’s “AREA 313,” or holes 14-16, raised $400,000 through the 2021 event. On the most charitable three holes in golf, golfers who scored a 3 on Hole 14 (an eagle) or a 3 on Hole 16 (a birdie) triggered a $5,000 donation to Changing the Course and golfers who scored a 1 on Hole 15 (a hole-in-one) generated a $25,000 donation.
“We aim to utilize every facet of the Rocket Mortgage Classic to benefit Detroit, especially by increasing equitable access to the internet and technology through our Changing the Course mission,” said Jason Langwell, Executive Director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “We’re grateful to work alongside such dedicated partners who all share the same vision and tirelessly work toward achieving it.”
Connect 313 Fund
The Changing the Course mission is largely executed by the Connect 313 Fund, which was founded through the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic and is rooted in the City of Detroit’s digital inclusion strategy. The Connect 313 Fund is a coordinating mechanism for all digital inclusion stakeholders driving collectively toward the singular vision of bridging the digital divide. In addition to coordinating a city-wide, data-driven digital inclusion strategy, the Connect 313 Fund makes investments into Detroit-based nonprofit partners to increase access to technology, internet and digital literacy resources for all Detroit residents.
At the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic Media Day, the PGA TOUR event kicked off “EBB 313,” a Connect 313 awareness campaign to connect Detroit households to the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). EBB was a federal program that subsidized the cost of internet and technological devices for eligible households which has since been replaced by the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). EBB provided low-income households with a $50 per month discount on internet access (now $30 through ACP), as well as a one-time $100 subsidy on a technology device.
As a result of the campaign, more than 82,500 Detroit households were connected to the Emergency Broadband Benefit, equaling more than 30% of all Detroit households.
Connect 313, through the Rocket Mortgage Classic and other efforts like Connected Futures and Connecting Seniors, has already raised more than $40 million in pursuit of making Detroit a model for digital equity and inclusion.
The organization today released an Impact Update, which provides a comprehensive synopsis of these and other accomplishments.
“We are well on our way to realizing the dream of every Detroiter having access to the internet, technology and digital literacy training within a ten minute walk of their home,” said Joshua Edmonds, Chief Advocate for Connect 313 and the City of Detroit’s Director of Digital Inclusion. “The Rocket Mortgage Classic is more than just a funding partner, they are a thought partner. Together we work to change lives through digital inclusion every day.”
The PGA TOUR and Rocket Mortgage recently announced an extension of the title sponsorship for the Rocket Mortgage Classic through 2027. The fourth-annual Rocket Mortgage Classic will be held July 25-31 at the historic Detroit Golf Club.
For more information and company news visit RocketMortgage.com.
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