Gala Event to Celebrate Albanian American Success Stories

Hosted by Eliza Dushku and Tony Dovolani/
New York, NY – On May 3rd, 2014 the Albanian-American community will gather in
New York City to celebrate the Albanian American Success Stories project – a first-ever
initiative showcasing the successes and achievements of Albanians in America,
highlighting their contributions to business, education, science, politics, the arts, and
more. The event coincides with the premiere of a documentary and coffee-table book
highlighting over 150 honorees, including Nobel Prize winner Dr. Ferid Murad, the first
Albanian elected to a U.S. official post in the New York State Assembly Mark Gjonaj,
well-known celebrities like actress Eliza Dushku and supermodel Emina Cunmulaj, and
many more.
Gathered at Battery Gardens in Manhattan, facing the Statue of Liberty which inspired
many of these success stories, the event will honor Albanian American achievements,
leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and community impact. Through the use of visual
storytelling, attendees will see and hear for the first time the inspirational stories of
achieving success in America — in some cases from hearing from refugees who escaped
war and persecution in the Balkans; in other instances, hearing from second and third
generation honorees who have blended their Albanian traditions with their American
roots in unique ways.
“We are proud of our heritage and have taken great care in documenting the stories of
successful Albanian Americans, who have added so much to the fabric of American
society,” said Vera Mjeku, Executive Director of the Albanian American Success Stories
project. “From a Nobel prize winner to Hollywood actors, to elected officials and
ambassadors, to doctors, attorneys, and financial leaders — the diversity of stories is
inspiring. To walk into a room with a world-famous tenor who has performed at the Met,
to entrepreneurs like the founder of one of America’s leading restaurant chains, to leading
scientists advancing medical research — we have captured these stories in a way that
illustrates the vitality of this community while at the same time giving life in a unique
way to what all these remarkable people have accomplished.”
The visualization of this project is being overseen by world-famous photographer Fadil
Berisha, who has captured some of the most influential images of our time and brings his
unique skill to showcasing the stories that will be shared for the first time that night,
preserved in a book and documentary as a record of Albanian achievement in America.
The Albanian American Success Stories project is a multi-year initiative that is a
partnership of the Albanian Media Group, Fadil Berisha Studio, and the Kosova
American Education Fund. Honorees were nominated by members of the Albanian-
American community and selected by the Albanian American Success Stories’ Board.
For more information, please visit www.albaniansuccessstories.com.
Fast Facts
What: Albanian American Success Stories Gala Event, honoring over 150 leaders in
entertainment, business, education, the arts, and more.
When: May 3, 2014. Red carpet entrance at 6:00pm, followed by gala event at 7:30pm
Where: Battery Gardens, Manhattan, NY (inside Battery Park, opposite 17 State St)
Who: Over 600 attendees, including Nobel prize winner Ferid Murad MD, Dancing
with the Stars’ Tony Dovolani, NY State Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, actress Eliza
Dushku, and many more.
To purchase tickets: visit www.albaniansuccesstories.com
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NOTE FOR MEDIA:
We appreciate and thank you for your interest in covering this –very special event. Due to
the large attendance that is expected and due to the security concerns at the venue, our
media partners will have an especially dedicated section at which to interview the
honorees:
• Please arrive with your reporters and cameramen no later than 5:45pm. A special
media section of the Red Carpet will be prepared for your team. There, you will
have the opportunity to take photos and conduct interviews next to the red carpet
exclusively from 6:00pm-7:20pm.
• Once the Gala begins at 7:00pm sharp (and after the Red Carpet activities are
complete), only one member of your media outlet will be allowed into the event
hall, free of charge. Due to the large crowds expected to attend the Gala, each
media organization is restricted to one person inside the hall. Your organization
may purchase additional tickets if you like.
• Please note: you must do your reporting and interviewing during the Red Carpet
schedule, between 6:00pm and 7:20pm only! Absolutely no media interviews or
video-recordings will be permitted inside Battery Gardens after 7:20pm. Media
interviews will only be conducted during the Red Carpet period, and once the
official event begins at 7:30pm, the honorees and guests will enjoy the evening.
(914) 309-9757; albamedia@aol.com
Giorgio Kolaj, Gala Chairman, (914) 772-7166; giorgio@famousfamiglia.com