The Rocket Mortgage Classic unveiled their new \u201cChanging the Course\u201d initiative \u2013 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 \u2013 internet accessibility being one of the most severe. The vision of \u201cChanging the Course\u201d 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\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs 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,\u201d said Jay Farner, CEO of Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans. \u201cIn 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\u2019t get to school, parents cannot search for jobs, and families were unable to get needed telemedicine. Detroiters deserve better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAddressing 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several athletes including Larry Fitzgerald, Nate Burleson, Marvin Jones, Jr., and more helped promote the initiative with social media messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n