Detroit City Wire

This year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic concluded with an exciting finish on Sunday, but the tournament's organizers anticipate its impact in Detroit to persist throughout the year.

Bridging the city’s digital divide remains the tournament’s primary charitable focus. Access to the internet and digital devices is a significant concern for Detroit, where approximately 220,000 residents live at or below the poverty line. Mayor Mike Duggan appointed a new digital equity director last year, and in February, the city inaugurated eight tech hubs offering free WiFi.

Since 2019, the Rocket Mortgage Classic has contributed $4.3 million to its “Changing the Course” initiative, which aims to provide residents with high-speed internet, digital devices, and training. This year's Area 313 Challenge raised over $200,000 through donations triggered by golfers scoring birdies or better on holes 14, 15, and 16. Total contributions from this past weekend's tournament will be disclosed once final accounting is completed later this year.

“This tournament is about more than golf,” Rocket Mortgage CEO Varun Krishna stated on CBS during the final round. “It’s about raising awareness and funds to bridge the digital divide. We’ve still got some work to do but this is a very strong moment of pride for us.”

Human-I-T, a discount computer store near Detroit's Avenue of Fashion, celebrated its first anniversary in June with support from the Rocket Community Fund. Human-I-T is a nonprofit that initially opened an e-waste processing facility in Los Angeles. The store on 7 Mile employs five people and offers low-cost devices, monthly internet plans, and digital training. Since opening, Human-I-T has sold 320 computers and 220 accessories according to Jennifer Jambor, Human-I-T’s senior manager of partnerships.