MEDIA CONTACTS:
Greg Ball, 760-271-9183, gregb@bzapr.com
Damian Secore, 951-454-6047, damians@bzapr.com
DETROIT (June 25, 2020) – The portfolio of corporate partnerships supporting the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic demonstrates the strength and solidarity that Detroit’s only PGA TOUR golf event has established among leading businesses in the community. The second-year tournament – with Rocket Mortgage as its title sponsor – is proud to welcome back Delta Dental, Chase, CDW, Cadillac, The Children’s Foundation, Amerisure and Trion Solutions as returning Official Partners, while introducing Henry Ford Health System as an Official Partner for the first time.
All sponsorship investment from the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s Official Partners, both through their funding and partnerships in event activations, will be allocated towards the tournament’s “Changing the Course” initiative, which seeks to end the digital divide in Detroit and ensure digital accessibility for all city households.
The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified a number of underlying issues in Detroit – internet accessibility being one of the most severe. In partnership with its title sponsor Rocket Mortgage, the tournament recently unveiled its multi-year “Changing the Course” campaign with a mission to ensure every Detroit resident has access to the internet, technology and digital literacy training necessary to gain education and opportunity in today’s economy.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Rocket Mortgage Classic directs its net proceeds to charitable community partners through the Rocket Giving Fund, which will invest funds in organizations and infrastructure that seek to ensure 5G internet technology becomes available across Detroit, as well as provide access to technology and digital literacy programming.
“The Rocket Mortgage Classic has found its partners to be unwavering allies who are eager to stand by us, support our Changing the Course movement and encourage our city to collectively grow more inclusive through access to technology and opportunity,” said Jason Langwell, Executive Director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “Collaboration and community, especially through the backing we receive from passionate business entities with a Detroit footprint, have always been a defining trait of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Our partners’ support will help us bridge the digital divide.”
The Rocket Mortgage Classic is scheduled for July 2-5 at the historic Detroit Golf Club, and will feature 156 of the PGA TOUR’s top players competing for a purse of $7.5 million. The event will be aired on Golf Channel, CBS and PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM, and live-streamed online via PGA TOUR Live.
In an effort to incorporate fan engagement opportunities during the media-only event, while also benefiting the tournament’s “Changing the Course” initiative, the Rocket Mortgage Classic has created innovative, live virtual experiences featuring PGA TOUR professionals. The event’s Virtual Tee-Time Sessions presented by Chase will allow 2019 and 2020 ticketholders and partners to participate in virtual video sessions with many of the players in the Rocket Mortgage Classic field. Michigan resident and NBC Sports personality Mike Tirico will moderate the fast-paced and entertaining discussions, and fans can submit questions to the players.
Delta Dental will also be partnering with The Children’s Foundation to bring to life a live virtual experience geared toward the youth from Detroit’s non-profit organizations Midnight Golf, The First Tee of Greater Detroit and the Detroit PAL. Community Time presented by Delta Dental will feature PGA TOUR professional Harold Varner III and is a shining example of Delta Dental’s sustained commitment to supporting nonprofits in the Detroit area.
Backing Detroit’s newest annual sporting event, and acting as a locally diversified and sustained support system, many of the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s Official Partners will activate around the 2020 event in a myriad of ways:
Delta Dental – Along with its presenting sponsorship of “Community Time” with Harold Varner III, Delta Dental is a donor to the AREA 313 Challenge, which is named after Detroit’s area code and will parlay PGA TOUR player scores during the Rocket Mortgage Classic – any eagle ‘3’ on the par-5 14th hole, a ‘1’ (hole-in-one) on the par-3 15th hole, or a birdie ‘3’ on the par-4 16th hole – into donations ($5,000 per eagle on No. 14 and birdie on No. 16; $25,000 per hole-in-one on No. 15) from Rocket Mortgage towards its “Changing the Course” program. Similar to last year, if one player makes an eagle, ace, and birdie (3-1-3) on Nos. 14, 15 and 16 over the course of the tournament’s four rounds, it will result in a $313,000 donation made in their name towards “Changing the Course.”
Delta Dental will also be showcasing the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s “Nonprofit of the Day” on its social media channels during tournament week.
Chase – Chase is sponsoring Virtual Tee-Time Sessions to help bring Rocket Mortgage Classic players and fans together this year. Chase is proud to support the Rocket Mortgage Classic and its “Changing the Course” initiative. Chase is committed to expanding opportunities in Detroit and helping more Detroiters benefit from its economic recovery. Learn more about Chase’s AdvancingCities efforts at RocketMortgageClassic.com.
CDW – A tournament partner of the AREA 313 Celebrity Challenge at the Fall Classic.
Cadillac – The Warren, Mich.-based luxury automaker, founded in Detroit in 1902, returns as the Official Vehicle of the Rocket Mortgage Classic and is supplying courtesy vehicles to 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic professionals.
The Children’s Foundation – An associate partner of the virtual “Community Time” with PGA TOUR professional Harold Varner III during Rocket Mortgage Classic week.
Henry Ford Health System – The Official Healthcare Provider of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Henry Ford Health System medical personnel will service all of the tournament’s medical needs during Rocket Mortgage Classic week.
Amerisure – The Rocket Mortgage Classic Official Partner will highlight the Rocket Mortgage Classic “Shot of the Day” on its Facebook channel during tournament competition.
For more information on future sponsorship opportunities with the Rocket Mortgage Classic, please email sponsorship@rocketmortgageclassic.com.
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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.
