Press Releases

The Connect 313 Fund – a collaborative partnership formed to bridge the digital divide in Detroit and founded by the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Rocket Mortgage, City of Detroit, Microsoft and United Way for Southeastern Michigan – today announced the creation of 17 new neighborhood technology hubs across Detroit. At least one tech hub will be located in each of Detroit’s seven council districts, ensuring citywide access to these trusted community spaces that provide internet connectivity, technology and digital literacy programming. Detroit will go from five neighborhood technology hubs to 22 overall, a drastic improvement in a city that, in 2019, was ranked as the least connected large city in the country. Thanks to the efforts of Connect 313 and other digital inclusion efforts, 67.5 percent of Detroit residents are now considered digitally included.

The Rocket Giving Fund (the nonprofit which manages the Rocket Mortgage Classic), in partnership with title sponsor Rocket Mortgage, today announced more than $1.35 million was raised 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.

THE JOHN SHIPPEN NATIONAL INVITATIONAL Invites the Nation’s Top Black Male and Female Professional & Amateur Golfers to Compete June 27-28 at The Detroit Golf Club The Men’s Field Will Compete for an Exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Rocket Mortgage Classic while the Women’s Field will Play for Exemptions into the LPGA’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational ‘THE JOHN SHIPPEN’ Event, Including the National Invitational for Black Golfers and the Sports Business Summit for Students of Color was Established by Intersport to Identify Historical Barriers to, and Expand Upon Black Representation in Golf and to Create Awareness, Access and Opportunities for Persons of Color in the Business of Sports

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and fellow major championship winners Jason Day and Bubba Watson have committed to play in the third annual Rocket Mortgage Classic – the first PGA TOUR event ever held in the city of Detroit – when it returns to historic Detroit Golf Club June 28-July 4. Other early player commitments include fan favorites Rickie Fowler and Harold Varner III.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic, in partnership with title sponsor Rocket Mortgage, today announced it generated more than $2.7 million for nonprofits from proceeds raised by Detroit’s second-annual PGA TOUR event. More than $2.4 million will be invested through the event’s “Changing the Course” initiative, which aims to bridge the digital divide in Detroit

In a show of support for the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s “Changing the Course” initiative, 12-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and Harold Varner III will team up against former World No. 1 Jason Day and Wesley Bryan in a casual nine-hole exhibition at Detroit Golf Club to raise funds toward ending the digital divide in Detroit

The Rocket Mortgage Classic, in partnership with its title sponsor Rocket Mortgage, today announced the beneficiaries of this year’s PGA TOUR event and the launch of the Connect 313 Fund, a new organization that will coordinate digital inclusion strategy across the city of Detroit as part of the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s “Changing the Course” initiative.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic Online Merchandise Shop opened its digital doors today at RocketMortgageClassic.com, allowing fans the opportunity to don the newest tournament-branded apparel while supporting the tournament’s primary charitable mission of ensuring all Detroit households are fit with access to the internet, devices and technology.

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.

In the past 24 hours, the PGA TOUR has announced cancellations to its schedule through the Valero Texas Open (March 30-April 5) in response to concerns over the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19. The Rocket Mortgage Classic today issued the following statement.