John Shinholser

McShin Foundation was founded in 2004 and named for its two recovering co-founders, John Shinholser and Carol McDaid. Shinholser and McDaid have dedicated their lives to helping individuals and families in or seeking recovery from the disease of addiction. The McShin Foundation operates on the founders' belief that by helping others find and sustain recovery, they can better sustain their own recovery. Shinholser and McDaid decided to establish a non-profit recovery community resource foundation based on this belief and on the work Shinholser had been engaged in with individuals in the recovering community since 1982. John is a United States Marine Corps veteran. He owned and managed a successful contracting business for over 30 years, during which time he served as President of the Richmond Chapter of the Painting and Decorating Contractors Association and was twice recognized as a national award winning Original Design Faux Finisher. John Shinholser served as President of SAARA of Central Virginia Affiliate and is a former board member of SAARA of Virginia. Shinholser also served as Chairman of the board of Rubicon Inc., 2010-2012 Virginia's most comprehensive substance abuse treatment facility (230 beds). In 2005, Shinholser received the prestigious America Honors Recovery Award from the Johnson Institute -- one of six recognized (nationally) who have been affected or afflicted by alcohol and other drug addictions, and have given back to their communities so that future generations may know the possibility and power of recovery. In 2005, he also received, along with his wife Carol McDaid, the Caron Foundation's Outstanding Alumni Award. In 2006, Shinholser received the coveted OSAS (Virginia Office of Substance Abuse Services) Award of Virginia for Significant Contributions to the Field of Substance Use Disorder Recovery. This award is typically given to professionals in the field. Mr. Shinholser was the first recovering community member to receive this award. Under John’s leadership McShin won the Recovery Community Organization of the year Award for the United States AKA The Joel Hernandez Award presented by Faces and Voices of Recovery in a Washington D.C. ceremony in June of 2011. Also under John’s tutelage McShin won the national SAMHSA Recovery Month 2011 Flicker Award. John Shinholser has been featured in Addiction Professional Magazine, Newsweek, The Richmond Times Dispatch (Flair, Metro, and Business sections), The Mechanicsville Local, Richmond Free Press, and Virginia Association of Community Service Boards 2005 Annual Report. John also has been in many news broadcasts and national documentaries to include The Anonymous People. John is a guest contributor to The Richmond Times Dispatch and other publications. John is an appointed citizen member of the 2008, 2009, 2010 Virginia General Assembly joint Senate /House sub-committee on substance abuse (SJ77). John co wrote the Recovery Coach Manual and travels the country providing Authentic Recovery Coach Training. John and Carol traveled to Whales in 2011 to participate in the first recovery walk as well help launch The Living Room in Cardiff, a Recovery Community Center. John was appointed an Honorary Deputy of the Richmond City Sheriff Office in July 2013. John currently resides in Hanover with his wife Carol and his daughter Mary Page. He has been clean and in successful long-term recovery since August 10th 1982.