The Belanger-Federico Foundation, Inc. is a Maryland 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2004 by Robert J. Belanger and Christopher P. Federico in memory of Mark Belanger and Susannah Federico. Robert's father, Mark Henry Belanger, eight time Gold Glove award winning shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, died of lung cancer at the age of 54. Christopher lost his mother, Susannah Cockey Federico to leukemia at the age of 66.   Mark Henry Belanger June 8, 1944 - October 6, 1998 Mark Belanger was just fifty-four when the lung cancer that was stalking him finally took his life. He is remembered by a loving family and two sons, Robert and Richard along with thousands of fans and players who recall a sparkling career as "The Blade" - an eight-time Gold Glove, legendary shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles. When his playing days were over, he became the first former player elected to the players union. As the eyes, ears and voice of major league players, he worked tirelessly to preserve hard won free market principles in major league baseball. He was a dad, a husband, a baseball player, a union leader. He will never be forgotten. Susannah Cockey Federico January 20, 1929 - November 15, 1995 One day the doctors told Susannah Federico she had six weeks to live. "Not enough," she told them, "that's not going to be enough time, there's just too much to do." Fourteen months later at age sixty-six, her yearlong battle with leukemia ended. She is survived by her seven children - Frank, Anthony Jr., Paula, Philip, Michael, Maria and Chris. Susannah was a painter, a poet, a volunteer art teacher at a hospital, a lover of theater and travel. She was a woman in love with her family and the world. Her spirit of generosity lives on in her children and nineteen grandchildren . Foundation Staff Rob Belanger - Rob was born in Baltimore, Maryland and split his childhood between Massachusetts and Baltimore during the years his father, Mark Belanger, played shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles. Rob played baseball for Towson University in Maryland, graduating in 1992 with a degree in Sports Management. Rob and his wife, Natasha, have two daughters and live in Towson, Maryland. Chris Federico- Born and raised in Baltimore, Chris graduated from Villa Julie College in 1994 with a degree in Business Administration. Chris is the co-founder of the Belanger Federico Foundation and was the catalyst for the annual Mark Belanger Celebrity Golf Classic. Chris and his wife, Tracy, have 3 children and reside in Phoenix, Maryland. Sharon Perfetti- Sharon is a lifelong resident of the Baltimore area. She graduated cum laude from the University of Baltimore with a degree in Corporate Communications. After spending 2 years in the volunteer position of General Coordinator for Annie's Playground in Fallston, Maryland, Sharon co-founded the Cool Kids Campaign with the Belanger Federico Foundation.

"Players ... owe a debt of gratitude to him. I personally miss the wisdom and insight he provided on virtually every important decision the MLBPA has made over the last three decades."

-Donald Fehr
Executive Director
Major League Baseball Players Association