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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.

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.

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. 

Greg Westrich

Board Treasurer

Greg’s objective is to provide support for those seeking “normalcy” in their unique life journeys. Greg Westrich is a Commercial Banker with Johnson Financial Group.

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.

Jeff Frye

Director

Jeff joined the Recovery Foundation Board of Directors to support efforts to provide treatment opportunities for those unable to financially obtain services.

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.

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.

Nicole Hanson

Director

Nicole works as an office support supervisor at a clinic that focuses on helping those with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder. She believes it is important and is passionate about reducing financial barriers that prohibit individuals from receiving needed services. She has experienced financial hardship in her life and brings empathy and compassion to those experiencing the same. She is happy to be a part of the Recovery Foundation Board to further its mission.

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.

Roger Frings

Director

Roger spent 25 years in state government working as a policy advisor and Chief of Staff in the Wisconsin State Senate. Following his career in the State Senate, Roger worked for 13 years in the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, working on issues covering all lines of insurance. In 2009 he was appointed to the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, and in 2019 he was elected Chair of the Council by his Peers. Roger has long had a passion for work in the Recovery Community, and thoroughly enjoyed his work with the Council which afforded him the opportunity to work directly on Public Policy in the Substance Use Field. After 38 years in state government Roger retired from state service and quickly utilized his skills and began working at Tellurian Behavioral Health, primarily in the Residential Treatment Program. Roger has many years of sobriety behind him which comes with valuable life experiences. He also has an adult son in Recovery.

Recovery Foundation

5005 University Avenue, Suite 100
Madison Wisconsin 53705

support@recoveryfoundation.net

608.733.6600