Building and Realty Institute Donates Funds to Operation Backbone to Support Veterans' Medical Treatment

The Building and Realty Institute (BRI), a leading regional business group, recently donated $2,000 to support Operation Backbone, a national organization that serves active duty service men and veterans.

Operation Backbone, based in Centerville, MD, provides crucial brain and spine surgical treatment for the most severely wounded soldiers. It also supports soldiers’ spouses and families who are the backbones of the families. Operation Backbone collaborates with the Buffalo Sabres hockey team to offer strength and nutritional training at their state-of-the-art training facility after surgery as part of the brain, spine and strength rehabilitation. It was founded by CEO Mike Sformo, a Gulf War veteran of the US Navy.

“This donation represents our association’s gratitude for the selfless service of our military personnel,” says Albert Annunziata, executive director, BRI, “and we’re delighted to support Operation Backbone’s tireless efforts to help repair their health and enhance their families’ lives.”

The BRI, also known as the Builders’ Institute, is a building, realty and construction industry membership organization. The association has 1,300 members in 14 counties of New York State. Members of the organization are involved in virtually every sector of the building, realty and construction industry. Based in Armonk, the BRI will mark its 70th anniversary in 2016.