Rocket Classic Partners with Folds of Honor, Grants Exemption to Dominic Clemons – 2024 Winner of Folds of Honor Collegiate Tournament

·         Partnership creates academic scholarships for families of fallen or disabled military servicemembers and first responders

·         Tournament to host Folds of Honor Friday saluting service and encouraging patriotism, offering complimentary tickets to military members and first responders

DETROIT (March 18, 2025) – The Rocket Classic today announced a partnership with Folds of Honor, a national foundation providing academic scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled military servicemembers and first responders.

The Rocket Classic has committed to funding 13 Folds of Honor scholarships, and Friday, June 27 will be designated as “Folds of Honor Friday” at the tournament.

Through the partnership, Dominic Clemons from the University of Alabama – the men’s champion of the 2024 Folds of Honor Collegiate – will be granted an exemption into the Rocket Classic field and will make his PGA TOUR debut in Detroit.

"At Rocket, we are committed to honoring and supporting our military members and first responders – and their families – whose selfless sacrifices make such a massive impact,” said Bill Emerson, President of Rocket Companies and the Rocket Giving Fund. “The Rocket Classic is about more than golf — it’s about recognizing those who serve and uplift our communities. Partnering with Folds of Honor gives us a meaningful platform to celebrate these heroes while also providing Dominic the opportunity to make his PGA TOUR debut.”

On Friday, June 27, a special ceremony with the playing of the national anthem will be held, and to encourage patriotism, fans will be asked to wear red, white and blue. Specially designed pins will also be distributed at the tournament. Additionally, the tournament will continue to offer complimentary tickets to military members (two per person, while supplies last) and will extend the offer to include first responders for the first time.

The Rocket Classic is the first PGA TOUR event to offer an exemption to the men’s winner of the Folds of Honor Collegiate, an annual 54-hole tournament held each September at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven. The partnership will also provide an exemption for this year’s winner of the Folds of Honor Collegiate (September 8-10, 2025, televised on GOLF Channel) to play in next year’s Rocket Classic.

Clemons, a native of Cambridge, England, won the 2024 Scottish Men's Open Championship. He has been named to the watch list for the 2025 Ben Hogan Award, awarded annually to the top men's NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA golfer.

“We are grateful to the outstanding and patriotic team at the Rocket Classic for supporting our recipients,” said Lt Col Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “The families of American heroes deserve and need our help, and the Rocket Classic is doing something about it. The tournament’s commitment will truly make a life-changing difference. We are thankful too for showcasing the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes and our men’s champion.”

Students interested in one of the 13 scholarships funded by the Rocket Classic can apply until March 31 by visiting www.FoldsofHonor.org/scholarships.

Folds of Honor distributed nearly 10,000 educational scholarships valued at about $50 million for the 2024-25 academic year. Since its founding in 2007, Folds has provided nearly 62,000 scholarships for about $290 million. A total of 91 percent of all funds raised goes directly to the scholarship program.

Folds of Honor Foundation was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, a decorated F-16 Viper Fighter Pilot. Minority recipients represent 45% of all scholarships awarded. In 2022, the organization expanded its mission to America’s first responders, including police, fire, EMTs, and paramedics. 

The seventh annual Rocket Classic will be held June 25-29 at Detroit Golf Club. Since the Rocket Classic’s inception in 2019, the tournament has generated nearly $10 million to support local Detroit nonprofits, including nearly $6 million for its landmark “Changing the Course” initiative to end Detroit’s digital divide. For more information visit RocketClassic.com.             

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About the Rocket Classic 

The Rocket Classic made history in 2019 as the first PGA TOUR event ever held in the city of Detroit and has continued to make a positive and lasting impact on the city and its residents through its multi-year “Changing the Course” campaign, established in 2020 to end the digital divide in Detroit and ensure digital accessibility for all city residents. The Rocket Classic was the most awarded event during the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season, being recognized for “Best Special Event” (then known as the AREA 313 Celebrity Challenge) and “Best Tournament Sales” as well as being honored with the first “Fair Way Award” for its diversity and inclusion initiatives. The Fair Way Award was bestowed upon the Rocket Classic again in 2023 and 2024. More information is available at RocketClassic.com and on Facebook, X and Instagram (@RocketClassic).

About Folds of Honor

Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 62,000 scholarships totaling about $290 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. A total of 91 percent of every dollar raised directly funds scholarships. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.

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