Detroit PAL and Detroit’s Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans have announced a five-year partnership in which Rocket Mortgage will provide financial support and team member volunteer service to Detroit PAL’s educational training, enrichment activities, and community sports programming for its 15,000 youth participants. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are truly grateful for Rocket Mortgage’s partnership with Detroit PAL and its commitment to helping the kids we serve to find their greatness,” says Robert Jamerson, interim CEO of Detroit PAL. “The Rocket Mortgage team recognizes that our program offerings reach far beyond sports, and they are willing to bring not only financial resources, but invaluable volunteers that our kids look up to. We can’t wait to see the positive benefits that our community will receive from this generous partnership.”
Thousands of Rocket Mortgage’s team members will volunteer in programs offering robotics, financial literacy, job and career shadowing, and other professional mentoring. The partnership will also support Detroit PAL’s Girls Changing the Game initiative, which is designed to expand the quality programming for Detroit PAL and increase the number of girls that participate in Detroit PAL programs.
“As Detroit’s largest employer, we love our home city and are dedicated to ensuring that all Detroiters have a path to a successful future,” says Jay Farner, CEO of Quicken Loans. “Detroit PAL has been absolutely critical in helping Detroit’s youth achieve their potential for a half century. Today, more than 15,000 kids are benefitting from the group’s programming, groundbreaking classroom instruction, and career training. It is an honor to be partnering with one of Detroit’s premiere organizations working to build a brighter tomorrow for so many.”
Other resources Rocket Mortgage has committed include opportunities for placement within Rocket Mortgage/Quicken Loans and corporate partners through Detroit PAL’s Workforce Development for Detroiters ages 17-30; support for Detroit PAL’s Team Up program with the Detroit Police Department; and expanded engagement and involvement of PAL and Detroit youth with the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
The company is also providing additional event management to support and maximize youth and community programming at The Corner Ballpark presented by Adient. The ballpark is a State of Michigan Historic Site and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the home of the Detroit Tigers for 87 years and the Detroit Lions for 36 years. Joe Louis also defended his heavyweight title in 1939 at Briggs Stadium, and Tiger Stadium hosted Nelson Mandela in 1990. Rocket Mortgage produces and hosts hundreds of events each year.
The partnership is part of Rocket Mortgage’s and the Quicken Loans Community Fund’s efforts to help the city. The fund has invested more than $200 million into Detroit-based organizations and programming, and its team members have spent more than 350,000 volunteer hours in the city.
This year is Detroit PAL’s 50th year in operation. It has served about 400,000 children since its foundation in 1969 and train and certify more than 1,800 volunteers each year.
