About Us
The Release Foundation is creating access to healing and opportunity.
We believe in a world where everyone has access to high-quality treatment for substance use and mental health.
Built on two core pillars - access to care and community - the Release Foundation provides scholarships to individuals in marginalized communities, connecting them with life-saving treatment and support.
The Release Foundation is rooted in the understanding that recovery should never be limited by financial barriers, and that healing happens best when people come together in community.
“Every day we are reminded of the challenges of behavioral health crises and of the extraordinary recovery that’s possible when a community comes together.”
— ZAC CLARK
Where We Started
In 2019, our Founding Board Members, Zac Clark and Matt Rinklin, recognized a pressing need. After many years working in behavioral healthcare, they had seen firsthand the barriers individuals face in accessing treatment and support when financial resources are limited. Determined to address this gap, they filed for 501(c)(3) status and began planning the Foundation’s first event, scheduled for April 2020.
Before that event could take place, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world. During this period, Zac was offered the opportunity to appear as a contestant on ABC’s The Bachelorette, which aired later that year. Following the show, Zac, supported by his expanded platform, revisited the vision for the Foundation. With a newly formed board and a simple t-shirt fundraiser, the Foundation raised an unexpected $85,000—providing the essential resources needed to begin supporting individuals in need.
In the five years since, the Foundation has grown considerably while remaining steadfast in its mission: to expand access to treatment and foster a sense of community. More than 500 runners have completed marathons on behalf of Release, raising funds to support individuals experiencing substance use and mental health challenges. Through these efforts, our annual May Gala, and the generosity of donors, the Foundation has been able to send more than 300 people to treatment.
To date, we have awarded over $4 million in scholarships, with countless stories of recovery and transformation.
Our work has only just begun. We are committed to building the Foundation into an enduring institution—one that continues to create access, hope, and healing well into the future.