PLYMOUTH, Mich.–Community Financial Credit Union said it is partnering with the Choose the Bear movement, which seeks to provide “critical support to survivors of domestic violence.”
“Inspired by a recent social media trend where women overwhelmingly chose to face a bear rather than be left alone in the woods with a man, Choose the Bear symbolizes empowerment and safety for survivors seeking refuge from abusive relationships,” the $1.6-billion Community Financial said in announcing the initiative.
Developed With Non-Profit
The program, which was developed in collaboration with First Step, a nonprofit agency specializing in services for victims of domestic and sexual violence, “underscores Community Financial’s commitment to addressing economic abuse and assisting survivors in reclaiming their financial independence,” the credit union stated.
Choose the Bear aims to provide survivors with emergency financial assistance to facilitate their exit from abusive environments. It includes specialized financial services, such as the CloseEnuff cash flow boosting checking account, “designed to rebuild financial autonomy and credit, and a compassionate team of trained professionals offering unwavering support throughout a survivor’s journey.”
‘Stand With Survivors’
“At Community Financial, we stand with survivors of domestic violence, offering not only financial support but also a pathway to safety and empowerment,” Tansley Stearns, president and CEO of Community Financial, said in a statement. “Economic abuse keeps three in four individuals with their abusive partner longer. As a financial institution, we have a responsibility to help. We stand with people in the bright spots, the dark moments and everything in between, and Choose the Bear is a step in helping people regain freedom from abuse. We’re also proud that the idea for the movement came from our team. This demonstrates our superpower of listening in action.”
A ‘Path to Recovery’
The credit union further said that with one in five women in America experiencing sexual assault, and one in three suffering from domestic violence, “this initiative addresses a pressing issue exacerbated by economic abuse, which traps many survivors in dangerous situations. Up to 99% of domestic violence cases involve economic abuse, underscoring the urgent need for intervention. Choose the Bear seeks to address this issue by leveraging Community Financial’s resources and expertise to offer resources and guidance for survivors to safely determine a path to recovery.”