MEDIA CONTACTS:
Greg Ball, 760-271-9183, gregb@bzapr.com
Damian Secore, 951-454-6047, damians@bzapr.com
DETROIT (June 15, 2020) – 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.
Net proceeds from the tournament’s virtual merchandise outlet will be used to advance the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s new, multi-year “Changing the Course” initiative, a social responsibility campaign shared with its title sponsor, Rocket Mortgage. The tournament’s 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 by 2025. The COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on digital inequality across Detroit, as 30% of the city’s households lack internet access and internet-supported devices.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic Online Merchandise Shop is operated by tournament apparel provider Levelwear, which is in its second year of developing the official tournament clothing. It includes men’s and women’s clothing in an array of designs and colors, as well as accessories including hats, head covers and more.
“We are thankful to our partner, Levelwear, in linking our tournament and our fans at home through its operation of the Rocket Mortgage Classic Online Merchandise Shop,” Rocket Mortgage Classic Executive Director Jason Langwell said. “We sold out of all of our inaugural tournament merchandise last year and, in continuing to serve our fans’ demand, we encourage all to find their favorite clothing at RocketMortgageClassic.com. Every single dollar will go toward the great cause of Changing the Course in the Detroit community by eliminating the digital divide that has existed for far too long.”
Of particular note, the Rocket Mortgage Classic Online Merchandise Shop is carrying a specially customized ‘Drive Detroit’ T-shirt – featuring the silhouette of a swinging golfer set within the backdrop of the Detroit skyline – which was designed by Detroit residents Tyler Stewart, SaLena Gulledge and Kamaree Cornelius. Stewart, Gulledge and Cornelius are students at the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, and won the first Rocket Mortgage Classic T-Shirt Design Contest.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic T-Shirt Design Contest was instituted earlier this year through Give Merit’s FATE program, which is operated by Detroit-based clothing company Merit Goodness and its nonprofit arm, Give Merit. The FATE program has collaborated with students from Detroit’s Jalen Rose Leadership Academy since 2012.
True to the mission of the Rocket Mortgage Classic T-Shirt Design Contest, the ‘Drive Detroit’ T-shirt design was judged to most completely capture the spirit of Detroit’s PGA TOUR golf tournament and connect the city of Detroit with the game of golf.
The FATE program was founded to provide sufficient resources and opportunities for underserved Detroit-area youth to embrace education and become world-class citizens. Each FATE student receives a $5,000 college scholarship if they uphold program standards and complete the program.
“We had to find a way to leverage our partnership with the Rocket Mortgage Classic in a way that catered to fans who won’t be able to experience the event in person, and by offering clothing that inspired the community to think bigger than golf,” said Hyman Ngo, Vice President of Levelwear. “There is an excellent range of merchandise for fans to purchase from the comfort of home, but the ‘Drive Detroit’ t-shirts in particular will be meaningful for people as they rally behind the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s effort to drive digital inclusion in the city.”
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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.”
For more information and company news visit QuickenLoans.com/press-room.
About Levelwear
Levelwear has established enduring business verticals in licensed and team sports, golf apparel, and men’s and women’s lifestyle wear, with core strengths of innovation, decoration, and industry-leading service. The company holds licensing partnerships with some of the top global brands, including; MLB, the NHL and NHLPA, NBA, CFL, 140 US Colleges, and can be found in 80 of the top 100 Golf Courses in North America.
For more information, please visit www.levelwear.com.
