Ross is well trained in volunteering for Cushing 

Personal trainer Kelly Ross has become somewhat of a regular at Cardinal Cushing Centers since modeling at last year’s Springtime Gala. 

Ross, a Norwell resident, was introduced to Cushing by board member Meg Kelleher. As an independent representative for Zyia Active, she modeled clothing from the brand. She was paired with Canton resident Abby Nix, who graduated from Cushing in August. 

“She kind of changed my life,” said Ross. “We really bonded. She’s a great young woman, and that was such an amazing, feel-good event. After that, when she was working at the Cushing Café, I would stop in and hang out with her.”

Ross also returned to host a bootcamp, raising $2,000 for Cushing, thanks to a corporate match. This was the third fundraiser she has hosted, with proceeds from the first two benefiting breast cancer awareness and Jack’s Drive 55 Foundation, which raises funds for pediatric brain tumor research. 

She plans to repeat her next fundraiser at Cushing. 

“I love this cause. It teaches real work skills,” she said. “The staff is so passionate about they do. I have a niece who is autistic, and I’ve said so many times that I wish she had something like this available to her where she lives. It fills a huge need in the community.” 

A Boston College graduate, Ross has a background in psychology and social work. She later turned to a career in fitness. 

“I was always in the world of volunteerism and had a career in behavioral health,” she said. “When I had kids, I spent a lot of time in the gym. I got certified in kickboxing and started doing classes, and then personal training, first at gyms and then on my own.” 

Ten years ago, she founded her own studio, Scorch Fitness, in Norwell, where she teachers 12 to 15 classes per week. 

“It’s great to be your own boss, and giving people the opportunity to change their lives – who doesn’t want to do that?” she said. “It’s been an amazing, wonderful journey.”