Rocket Mortgage Classic Tops $7 Million in Charitable Donations

Brings Detroit from the most digitally-divided city in America to one of the best tech ready

By Tom Lang

There’s been plenty of documentation in the last three years about what Covid-19 did to the game of golf and other areas of life. Yet what stood out the most during 2020 to Rocket Mortgage tournament director Jason Langwell and other tournament board members was how so many Detroiters suffered with lack of digital connectivity to the world outside their homes.

What is taken for granted almost everywhere – online connections to the Internet – was not the ‘norm’ for city of Detroit residents. Kids trying to do schoolwork, telemedicine and job applications were nearly impossible for most.

“It was incredibly shocking to learn,” Langwell told me. “That’s when we turned our giving initiative on its head. We saw this massive digital divide and Detroit being the least connected city in America, and said to ourselves, ‘we’re not only going to close this gap, we’re going to find a way to make Detroit one of the most connected cities in America.’”

On March 13, also known as 313 Day in Detroit, the tournament, played each year sine 2019 at Detroit Golf Club, announced the 2022 proceeds totaling $1.57 million with $662,555 of it going to address the Changing the Course/Connect 313 program that is attacking the digital divide.

Langwell explained how the Portable Connectivity Program provides residents with a $100 one-time technology device subsidy, and $30 a month toward Internet costs. Now, over 100,000 households are enrolled in that program, equaling 54% of qualified homes in the area. It’s now the highest rate of any comparably sized city. 

Technology Hubs are also part of the initiative, starting a few years ago with 5 technology hubs at community centers, where citizens can get access to technology and digital literacy training. Now there are 22. 

“All those things are making Detroit more digitally included, and that’s how we’re going to close this gap,” Langwell said.

Tickets for the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic, set for June 28-July 2, go on sale April 10 at: https://www.rocketmortgageclassic.com/

Tony Finau is the defending champion and is expected to return this summer to defend the title.