About Us
Who We Are
The Recovery Foundation, Inc., founded in 2009, is a non-profit organization that supports individuals through their substance abuse & mental health recovery by providing them with Treatment Scholarships, to help aid in the cost. The Scholarship Recipients become dedicated to their recovery, and want to improve the quality of their lives, embracing the present and future.
The Recovery Foundation is additionally focused on raising community awareness on the viability and sustainability of long term recovery from substance use disorders. Using a passionate, volunteer board and through the generosity of many individual and corporate sponsors, Recovery Foundation has made an impact on many lives in and around Dane County.
The Recovery Foundation, along with the generosity of many donors and sponsors, is providing the opportunity to people who desperately want to recover from the disease of addiction and learn to manage their mental health disorders so they can thrive.
Board of Directors
Chuck Callender
President
Chuck has volunteered on the Recovery Foundation board since 2014. As the retired business director of Connections Counseling in Madison he is very familiar with the financial and social barriers to treatment. He brings a passion for the foundation’s mission to support and enhance recovery opportunities for individuals in need as well as a grounded business perspective to this role.
Janis Waddell
Vice President
Janis is dedicated to creating awareness about the prevalence of addiction and mental illness and reducing the stigma in hopes of ensuring access to expert care for all who seek recovery. Waddell’s areas of expertise include behavioral healthcare marketing, insurance managed care contracting, adolescent and adult substance abuse treatment, and current trends.
Shelly Dutch
Founding Director
Shelly Dutch has dedicated her life’s work to those with Substance Use Disorders for 40 years. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her dedication to the alcohol and drug issues in our society. She is certified at both the state and national levels, and emphasizes mentoring and service as the key to recovery.
Dan Morse
Director
Dan is a Development Consultant who has worked with various organizations throughout Wisconsin. He joined the Recovery Foundation as a way to give back to the organization and support its mission of helping those that are struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders.
Mary Schneider
Secretary
Mary Schneider is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Kinesiology (Occupational Therapy Program) and Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on the effects of prenatal alcohol and/or prenatal stress exposure on neurobehavioral development, brain function and chronic alcoholism in adulthood.
Alison Owens
Director
Alison currently works as a Substance Abuse Counselor and manages a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation clinic for individuals who suffer from Major Depressive Disorder, Anxious Depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She is in long term recovery and is committed to mental health and substance abuse advocacy. She strives to eliminate the negative stereotypes associated with mental health and substance use disorders. She believes in fighting for each patient’s rights and works tirelessly towards ensuring that no one falls through the cracks. She also ensures every voice is heard, and she aims to provide everyone with the same fair and equal treatment opportunities.
Rob McCreadie
Director
Rob is a treatment professional, serving as Assistant Director of an outpatient mental health and substance use disorder clinic in Madison, WI. Rob is a licensed Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor, Clinical Supervisor and a trained Brainspotting practitioner with nearly two decades of experience helping adults develop coping skills and expand support systems that foster growth, positive change and healing. Rob performs in administrative, supervisory and clinical capacities, whose passion is direct client care in both the individual and group setting. Rob also has years of experience working with medication assisted treatment as a tool to help clients achieve their goals. Rob enjoys working with individuals experiencing substance use disorders, self-destructive thinking and behavior, and trauma. Rob’s approach is that of a fellow traveler, who meets his clients where they are, walks alongside them and guides them to achieve their goals through the use of evidence-based practices. Rob does not believe that recovery is a “one size fits all” proposition and is dedicated to helping individuals identify and follow the path that best meets their needs. Rob sees himself as an advocate for positive change, healing and recovery. Rob is an affected family member, having lost a sister and brother to addiction and having helped several family members establish and maintain their recovery journeys. Rob is a recovering addict with more than 21 years clean in Narcotics Anonymous. Rob is thrilled to be a member of the Recovery Foundation board and being given the opportunity to support the Recovery Foundation in carrying out their mission.
Amanda Uphoff
Director
Amanda is a woman living in long-term recovery. She is currently the Chief of Staff at Recovery.com, an online resource for finding treatment and recovery support. Amanda is a certified yoga teacher and mentors women in early recovery, often applying yogic philosophies to these relationships. She believes that recovery is possible for anyone, and is honored to always hold her hand out to the woman still struggling, so that she may find her path.
Cliff McDonald
Director
Cliff is a person in long term recovery. He is also the Chief Growth Officer of Recovery.com, an online resource for finding treatment and recovery support. Earlier in his career, Cliff worked in finance and technology and he has also started and grown many companies. He has a BA in Psychology from Dartmouth College, an MBA (with Distinction) from DePaul University and has completed graduate programs in positive psychology and digital marketing. Cliff resides in Madison with his wife Shanna and their three sons. He is a football coach at Madison West high school and is on the Board of Directors at the Fitchburg Serenity Club. He also serves on the Alumni Advisory Board for Guardian Recovery.
Joyce Zander
Foundation Administrator
Joyce is an Administrator Emerita in the School of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She is passionate about the Recovery Foundation’s mission to support people with substance abuse and mental health challenges. She is excited to have recently joined the Recovery Foundation Board in March, 2023.
Our Mission
Provide financial support to individuals seeking or engaged in outpatient treatment for long-term recovery from substance abuse and mental health disorders. Supported individuals will reside in or around Dane County, Wisconsin.
Educate community and improve awareness to remove the stigma related to substance abuse and mental health disorders that can stand as a barrier at every stage of recovery.
Support peer mentorship in the Dane County recovery community and treatment programs. Peer mentorship keeps individuals involved in active recovery longer, thus improving the individual’s rate of success while simultaneously assisting and engaging other individuals in early recovery.
