Choose The Bear Tour against abuse in Michigan | May 20 - July 20

Choose The Bear Tour | May 20 – July 20

Follow along

This summer, orsa credit union partners with Laura Killingbeck, renowned adventurer and author, as she rides from the Upper Peninsula to Detroit to raise awareness and support for survivors of domestic and economic abuse in Michigan. Along the way she’ll connect with Michiganders, survivors, and non-profit partners to explore real women’s stories and share her journey.

Our Storyteller

Laura Killingbeck

Laura is an award-winning writer, storyteller, keynote speaker and adventurer who has cycled thousands of miles on long-distance bike trips, sharing tales from the road through magazine features and public speaking. Her journeys span continents and cultures, blending grit with human connection and inspiring audiences to embrace their own journeys with courage and curiosity.

Choose The Bear

In Laura's Words

Megan King, Andrea Koch, Laura Killingbeck, Gail Kloss, and Claire Houser standing in front of the Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan

Story

An Interview with the Team at The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan

On June 19, Laura Killingbeck visited The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan center in Petoskey to interview Gail Kloss, Andrea Koch, Claire Houser, and Megan King about the lasting impacts that survivors face.

A bike sitting near a tent while a woman lights a campfire

Story

An Interview with Christine Kinal, CEO and President of HAVEN

On June 5, while en route across the Upper Peninsula, Laura Killingbeck interviewed Christine Kinal of HAVEN about her work with one of Michigan’s oldest and largest domestic violence shelters.

A woman riding her bike alone through the woods

Story

We Walk In Our Traditional Way

As part of the Choose The Bear Tour, Laura Killingbeck visits with Uniting Three Fires Against Violence in Sault Ste. Marie to discuss their history, story, and mission to end gender-based violence and economic abuse in Michigan’s native communities.

Story

An Interview with the Team at The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan

Story

An Interview with Christine Kinal, CEO and President of HAVEN

On June 5, while en route across the Upper Peninsula, Laura Killingbeck interviewed Christine Kinal of HAVEN about her work with one of Michigan’s oldest and largest domestic violence shelters.

Story

We Walk In Our Traditional Way

Debit Donation Methods

Support with every debit swipe

The biggest changes can come from the smallest starts. When we work together, every act adds up—which is why we’ve added different ways to support survivors directly to your orsa debit card. From spare change to pitching in for free, there’s a way for everyone to get involved.

grow & give

With CloseEnuff^® checking's grow & give feature, you can round up your spare change to the nearest dollar with every debit purchase. Put it toward savings, a charity of your choice, or both! You choose the growing to giving ratio that works for you. So, every purchase means making progress for you and Michigan survivors.

To help grow the Choose The Bear Fund^™ with every swipe, simply turn on grow & give in digital banking and set your roundup donations to the orsa foundation^™.

Debit swipe donations

Your debit card can make donations with our money! Every time you spend, we’ll give one cent to a local orsa partner of your choice—including the Choose The Bear Fund.

Doing good doesn’t have to cost a thing, and all it takes to get started is a CloseEnuff^® checking account. Once open, just call our Care Center at (877) 937-2328 to set your debit swipes to the Choose The Bear Fund.

Choose The Bear Fund^™

How to help

Donations to the Choose the Bear Fund^™ go to organizations that support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and economic abuse in Michigan. Helping ensure that every survivor has access to the help they need.

Choose The Bear^® Initiative

Help for survivors

If you or a loved one may be facing economic abuse in Michigan, tap below for resources and more information. Through our Choose The Bear initiative, we’re working to support women facing domestic violence and economic abuse. We aim to fill a huge gap in the financial services industry by offering true empathy, understanding, and creative support.

Two ways to donate:

1. Support with swag!

Proceeds of all sales go to the Choose The Bear Fund^™

2. Donate directly to the
Choose the Bear Fund^™

The orsa foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Your receipt will be emailed to you upon successful completion of your donation.