Latest news with #HumanIT
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Rocket Classic nearing $10 million in philanthropy while closing Detroit's digital divide
The 2025 Rocket Classic presented by AlumniFi is back, and they're excited to share why this tournament continues to have an impact beyond the Detroit Golf Club's footprint. Since the tournament's inception, its charitable donations have reached the $10 million mark. The tournament focuses on closing Detroit's digital divide. Less than a mile from the Detroit Golf Club, it's invested in Human IT, which not only makes laptops, routers, and computing accessories more accessible but also gives Rocket technology a second life. "The key with low cost is the key with most City of Detroit residents," said Human IT general manager Ed Jordan. Blue collar still use Bluetooth, and hard workers still need Wi-Fi. Rocket helps with that by donating retired technology so Human IT can refurbish it and resell it at accessible prices. "Some of these big-time companies, like Rocket, they donate some of this technology. We have a great partnership with these guys, and some of these devices have been gently used for like two weeks, so they're fairly new. So we get those devices, give them to the customer for a nominal price," Jordan said. He says Rocket actually invested in their brick-and-mortar location so Human IT could have a physical store right on Seven Mile and Livernois, ensuring digital equity where it's needed most. "It's very, very vital that the City of Detroit residents know that we're here to support digital literacy, support them with low cost devices, support them with understanding that we have to bridge that digital divide," Jordan said. As the Rocket Classic closes in on $10 million in donations since the tournament started, they're still focused on creating an equal playing field online today. "It's a great way for Rocket to donate the technology we're using on a daily basis, and it actually has a physical presence in this neighborhood, so it's a perfect connection to our mission do bridge the digital divide," said Rocket Community Fund executive director Laura Grannemann. Rocket's Changing the course initiative has helped the City of Detroit go from being just 40% digitally included in 2020, meaning equal access to digital technology and connectivity, to almost 70% now.
CBS News
14-02-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Sabrina Ionescu hands out laptops at NBA All-Star event, eyes eventual rematch with Steph Curry
WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu was back in her native Bay Area Thursday, teaming up with AT&T and Human IT to hand out hundreds of laptops to Oakland schoolchildren. On Thursday night, the New York Liberty point guard and Miramonte High School graduate was at the East Oakland Youth Development Center to meet and greet members of the community. "Being born and raised right here in the East Bay, it's really important to be able to give back to the next generation," said Ionescu. "So very happy to be here and knowing how it's going to impact a lot of these families here." She teamed up with AT&T and Southern California-based nonprofit Human I-T to hand out hundreds of laptops to disadvantaged students. "It makes a big difference," said student Kaniyaa Richardson who received a laptop. "I don't gotta rush to get it done at school. I can go home. I don't gotta worry about it." Richardson was thankful for her new laptop but she was also star-struck by the WNBA All-Star, league champion and Olympic gold medalist. "Today when they told me she was going to be here, I was, 'for real?'" she asked. "Like, I wasn't really believing it. Then I seen her and she was really here. I was, like, I'm going to ask her to sign my shoes." All the student attendees are part of the East Oakland Youth Development Center, an organization that works to give them the skills they need to succeed in life. "These kids are the future so I want to instill resilience and power into them," said Amar Karim, a youth advisor for the center. Karim was a part of the program as a child and before becoming a youth advisor. He feels giving kids the tools they need to succeed will go a long way in achieving their goals. "I really want to inspire Black young men like me to take their education seriously and take their opportunities seriously," he said. "Not waste on stuff that's temporary." While Ionescu took time to give back to her community, many in the Bay Area were also looking forward to another 3-point contest showdown between her and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry this weekend. The NBA said it tried to set up the rematch from last year's All-Star festivities, but couldn't work out the details. So for now, the rematch is on hold. "No, I'm not disappointed," said Ionescu. "I think it's obviously an event that we had last year and it went so well. It takes a lot to kind of go into that and make sure it's all planned out in a way we want to make sure is moving the needle. So there's going to be many more opportunities for us to be able to go out there and compete."
