About Us
Who We Are
The Recovery Foundation, Inc., founded in 2009 by Shelly Dutch, 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 primary focus of our aid is to encourage and facilitate recovery housing (sober living) to enhance the chances of successful long term recovery. 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 Wisconsin.
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
Roger Ray Bird
Executive Director
Blessed I am, to be able to help others who cannot effectively help themselves. Here I now begin perhaps the most critical chapter of my entire life, Executive Director of Recovery Foundation. With four decades of business expertness, after founding two nonprofits that serve at-risk youth, as a former pro athlete, and as a Certified Peer Specialist with the lived experience of addiction and depression, I excitedly bring my robust life toolbox to work for the good of all mankind.
Shelly Dutch
Founding Director
Shelly Dutch has dedicated a passionate lifetime of effort to those with Substance Use Disorders. Shelly founded the Recovery Foundation in 2009 to address gaps and barriers in recovery. Shelly was the founder and director of Connections Counseling, an outpatient clinic in Madison for many years until 2021. Shelly was also a co-founder and long time board member of Horizon High School, Wisconsin’s only sober high school. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her dedication to the alcohol and drug issues in our society. She emphasizes mentoring and service as the key to recovery.
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.
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.
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.
