June 29, 2026 Submitted by Amanda Cease for Cardinal Cushing Centers
Jeff Bellows, who moved to Hingham in 2004 with his wife Nicole, a realtor at Compass, is passionate about his job as Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Public Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shields of Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2010. And it is through that organization that he got to know Cardinal Cushing Centers – a nonprofit that serves over 500 adults and children with intellectual disabilities across the South Shore.
“Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has a mission that goes beyond healthcare coverage. We believe that every person in the Commonwealth should have the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life,” says Bellows. “We want health equity for all, which is why we are so invested in Cardinal Cushing Centers and their mission to provide individuals with disabilities the education, employment support, and community connections they need to thrive.”
What started out as a typical sponsor relationship quickly bloomed into something more. In 2017, Jeff was asked to not only attend Cushing’s annual Springtime Gala as a sponsor – he was asked to be an integral part of the show.
“One of the highlights of our Gala, which is Cushing’s biggest fundraiser of the year, is that the exceptional adults and students we serve get to model on the runway with very special guests,” explains Michelle Markowitz, President and CEO of Cardinal Cushing Centers. “We just knew that Jeff had the personality and the charisma to be a “celebrity model,” walking the runway and engaging the audience.”
Bellows did not disappoint. He was matched with a young man named Michael Jaxtimer Barry, who was equally gregarious, and together they stole the show. Since then, Bellows has walked the runway with special Cushing participants four different times.
Fast forward nine years, and the relationship between Bellows and Cardinal Cushing Centers has grown even further. “One of the most rewarding ways we’ve teamed up with Cardinal Cushing Centers over the years is through BCBS’s annual Service Day, a September tradition we’ve proudly kept alive for the past 16 years,” said Bellows. “On this special day, more than 3,000 of our colleagues head out across Massachusetts to support local nonprofits.”
Jeff and BCBS of Massachusetts CEO Sarah Iselin spend the day traveling to as many service sites as they can, and especially enjoy when Cardinal Cushing Centers is on the project list. “Visiting our team while they are volunteering on Cushing’s campus is always a major highlight. Partners like Cushing are the exact reason this tradition is so meaningful to us.”
What’s next? “We are excited to engage Jeff and his team in new ways as opportunities arise,” said Markowitz. “There’s great synergies between the two organizations that we are excited to explore further.”