Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
DeChambeau to Defend Rocket Mortgage Classic Title
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and fellow major championship winners Jason Day and Bubba Watson have committed to play in the third annual Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club June 28-July 4.
Other early player commitments include fan favorites Rickie Fowler and Harold Varner III.
“The Rocket Mortgage Classic has quickly cemented itself as one of the favorite events on Tour for some of the best players in the world,” says Jason Langwell, executive director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “Bryson is smashing records with his powerful drives and, simply put, has been the most fascinating golfer on the PGA Tour since he won our tournament last year.
“All of our early committed players have tremendous resumes and will put on a tremendous show for the fans here in Detroit while helping us raise critical funds to help close the digital divide in Detroit.”
These world-class PGA TOUR golfers and fan favorites are capable of providing fireworks inside the ropes over July 4th weekend at the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic:
- DeChambeau, a Rocket Mortgage golf ambassador, is the reigning champion of the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the world’s sixth-ranked player. Among his eight PGA Tour titles is the 2020 U.S. Open championship.
- Jason Day, a former World No. 1 from Australia, won the 2015 PGA Championship and 2016 Players Championship along with 10 other PGA Tour titles.
- Fowler, a Rocket Mortgage golf ambassador, is a five-time PGA Tour winner and the 2010 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. The 2015 Players Championship winner represented the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has played in the Ryder Cup four times.
- Varner was victorious at the 2016 Australian PGA Championship and was tied for second heading into the final round of the 2019 PGA Championship.
- Watson owns 12 PGA Tour wins, including the 2012 and 2014 Masters tournaments. He is an avid supporter of the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s Changing the Course initiative.
Watson organized a nine-hole televised event the Wednesday of last year’s tournament week that raised $1 million for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic’s goal of Changing the Course, an effort to bridge the digital divide in Detroit.
This year, the tournament is doubling down on its charitable focus — aiming to raise more than $1 million through fan engagements and returning initiatives at its three-hole AREA 313 stretch. Expected to become “The Most Charitable Three Holes in Golf,” AREA 313 is named in honor of Detroit’s area code and is comprised of the 555-yard par-5 14th hole, the 160-yard par-3 15th hole and the 446-yard par-4 16th hole.
“All proceeds raised through AREA 313 will be directed to the Changing the Course initiative, and these contributions will be invested into organizations and infrastructure that seek to bridge the digital divide and offer digital connectivity to all Detroit residents,” says Laura Grannemann, vice president of the Rocket Community Fund. “We are unconditionally committed to Changing the Course, as it is vital for us to support our local community and provide necessary technology, digital access, digital literacy and educational training for Detroiters now and in the future.”
New to the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2021 is the “Faces of AREA 313 Presented by Priority Health” program. It will enable companies and community members to pledge $313 or more for their face, that of a fellow fan, first responder, frontline worker or loved one lost from the COVID-19 pandemic to be prominently displayed on an electronic videoboard or along the hospitality structures within the three-hole stretch.
Each donation will be matched dollar for dollar by Priority Health, which has pledged $50,000 to the initiative. Faces are available by visiting RocketMortgageClassic.com, and each purchase is accompanied by a ticket that allows fans access to the event Monday, June 28 and Tuesday, June 29.
TCF to Open New Grandmont Rosedale Banking Center
TCF Bank will open its Grandmont Rosedale Banking Center at 19600 Grand River Ave. in Detroit on Monday, April 26, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Wayne County Sherriff Raphael Washington, TCF Executive Chairman Gary Torgow, and others are expected to participate.
“TCF Bucks” will be provided to attendees to pay for purchases made with participating local small business vendors. TCF representatives along with Charity Dean, CEO of the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance, will answer questions about small business resources during a Small Business Networking event next door to the new banking center.
TCF is investing $5 million in the Grandmont Rosedale area as part of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund, which Duggan’s administration introduced in 2018 to stabilize and strengthen neighborhood development across the city. TCF has fulfilled part of its Strategic Neighborhood Fund commitment in the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood with streetscape improvements, affordable housing, and business corridor development. TCF has invested additional funding toward a new STEM Lab at Cooke Elementary School and block club beautification grants.
DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital Reverified as Level I Trauma Center
DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital has been reverified as a Level I Trauma Center. Level I is the highest verification given by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.
The verification was done without an on-site visit as a result of COVD-19, making DMC Detroit Receiving the first trauma center in the country to be reverified virtually.
“It was important for us to move forward with the reverification,” says Dr. Charles Lucas, a trauma surgeon at Detroit Receiving Hospital. “Our leadership team, trauma service staff, information technology department and staff worked closely with the American College of Surgeons to develop a pilot process for virtual reverification.”
The Level I Trauma verification is based on an evaluation of medical outcomes, patient care, and safety, standards of care, professional development, and performance improvement, as well as education and injury prevention.
Reverification is required every three years and is provided by two surgeons from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. The verification signifies a hospital is fully equipped to handle all types of injuries from a simple laceration to a patient with a multiple types of traumatic injuries including traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal injuries, vascular injuries, cardiac, and thoracic injuries
“The reverification reinforces our commitment to ensuring advanced life-saving care to our family, friends and neighbors 24/7 in a state-of-the-art facility close to home,” says Dr. Anna Ledgerwood, a trauma surgeon at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital.
Detroit Historical Museum Adds Fundraising Pro to Executive Team
The Detroit Historical Society has appointed Doug Czajkowski to its executive team as vice president of philanthropy. In this newly created role, Czajkowski will focus on fundraising and donor stewardship for the society, which marks its centennial this year.
Prior to joining the Detroit Historical Museum, Czajkowski gained capital campaign and executive experience at Mount Clemens General Hospital (now McLaren Macomb Hospital), Wayne State University and the Wayne State School of Medicine, Western Michigan University’s Homer Stryker School of Medicine, and most recently with the Autism Alliance of Michigan. He also worked with the Remington Group as a fundraising executive consultant.
“I’m pleased to join DHS at such a pivotal time as we position the institution for its next 100 years,” says Czajkowski. “This is a once-in-a career opportunity to make a lasting impact on a beloved Detroit institution.”
He is a graduate of Saginaw Valley University and holds an MA from Indiana University.
“The past year has underscored how critical our long-time supporters are to our continued success,” says Elana Rugh, president and CEO Detroit Historical Society. “As we look forward to creating a Detroit Historical Society that will thrive for 100 more years, involving those supporters at every level of our work is critically important.
“Doug’s experience and passion for donor stewardship will ensure that our supporters are fully engaged as we celebrate our Centennial and work to preserve and present the stories of all Detroiters in these extraordinary times.”
Priority Health Expands Online Social Services Program
Grand Rapids-based Priority Health has expanded its free Priority Health Connect resource, an online platform designed to connect individuals in the community with free and reduced-cost programs and critical social services.
Previously only available to Medicaid members, the recent expansion has made the program accessible to all of Priority Health’s nearly 1 million members in the state of Michigan.
Priority Health Connect, created in partnership with Aunt Bertha, allows members to search for the resources they need within their zip code, including services like housing support, legal assistance, COVID-19 programs, access to healthy foods, and childcare. Agencies across the state can list their free or low-cost services for free within the platform. There are more than 6,800 programs currently available in the state of Michigan on Priority Health Connect.
“There are so many helpful community resources out there, but sometimes the biggest challenge is navigating the system, and Priority Health Connect cuts out all of the clutter and creates a simple process,” says Sheila Wilson, director of care management at Priority Health. “This platform allows those seeking resources to self-serve, but to also know that they will have the dignity of a timely response from those providing the services. It’s important to remember that social needs like housing and access to food can be just as critical to someone’s health as visiting the doctor or getting the right medication.”
For more information, visit here.
Sailing League and Detroit Sailing Center Partner to Increase Access to Sport
The Premiere Sailing League USA will collaborate with the Belle Isle-based Detroit Community Sailing Center in an effort to increase access to sailing.
The PSL’s fleet of six RS21 sailboats will be used in the learn-to-sail programs for both children (ages 10-17) and adults, which are based out of DCSC’s headquarters in the Belle Isle Boat House. The addition of the RS21s to the fleet already in use by DCSC will expand the capacity of DCSC.
“Even before the pandemic, the PSL had been developing a strategy to support and grow sailing opportunities for adults and children in areas where accessibility and affordability are barriers to getting on-the-water,” says Benjamin Klatzka, president of PSL. “I am excited to see those efforts come to fruition.”
While the first session of this summer’s DCSC youth learn-to sail classes are full, registration is open for session two, as well as the adult classes here.
By utilizing the PSL’s RS21s, the community-based learn-to-sail program avoids the cost of buying new boats for this summer’s programming, allowing it to make a long-term investment in its aging infrastructure with the purchase of new floating docks.
The PSL also hopes to raise funds for the youth program by granting naming rights to the RS21s in exchange for a contribution to Detroit Community Sailing Center, a 501(c) (3) organization.
“It is an exciting opportunity to have the use of new boats for our youth and adult sailing program this summer,” says Harry Jones, director of Detroit Community Sailing. “We hope that local organizations will see the value of making our waterfront more accessible and show their support by participating in the naming program.”
Eisenhower Dance Detroit Returns After COVID-19 Pause
Eisenhower Dance Detroit is back after pausing due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a program titled “MOVE,” May 15-16 at Oakland University’s Varner Courtyard.
The May 15 program begins at 7:30 p.m. and the May 16 show starts at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 and $10, and available by visiting here.
The two shows are part of the Oakland University Outside the Box Performing Arts Festival and includes works by choreographer Christian Denice and Eisenhower Dance Detroit Artistic Director Stephanie Pizzo. Works by founding Artistic Director Laurie Eisenhower also are included.
“The young men and women who make up Eisenhower Dance Detroit are chomping at the bit and are excited to return to the stage with pride as part of this great event,” says Pizzo
