Eliza Dushku

In New York City on September 8, 2006.

Hollywood star Eliza Dushku will make a special appearance at the 10th Anniversary Awards Dinner of the National Albanian American Council (NAAC) in New York City on Friday, September 8, to pay tribute to NAAC’s work and the accomplishments of the Albanian-American community, according to an official statement issued by the organization.

The NAAC exclusive gala, to be held at the prestigious Cipriani in midtown Manhattan, will mark the first appearance by Dushku at an Albanian-American function.

One of Hollywood’s fastest rising stars, Dushku is of Albanian descent and has just recently completed a high-profile tour of Albania and Kosova where she met with artists, political figures, and various officials.

Dushku has constantly made the American public aware of her Albanian origin and is becoming increasingly visible as an advocate of Albanian-related issues.

As part of her special appearance at NAAC’s Anniversary Awards Dinner, Dushku will lead a host of other celebrated names who will grace the evening with their appearance and/or performances - including: Valbona Coba, model/actress; Mariza Ikonomi, pop singing sensation; Lindita Lole Mezini, accomplished soprano diva; Eralda Hitaj, Miss Albania and other surprise guests.

Dushku’s career began with the lead role of Alice, opposite Juliette Lewis in the film That Night.

In 1993, Dushku landed a role as Pearl alongside Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in This Boy’s Life.

The following year, she played the teenage daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies.

She would also have parts as Paul Reiser’s daughter in Bye-Bye, Love, as Cindy Johnson with Halle Berry and Jim Belushi in Race the Sun.

Dushku took time off from acting to finish her junior and senior years of high school, and enrolled at George Washington University in Washington, DC and Suffolk University in Boston, where her mother serves as professor of government and previously served as dean of the campus in Dakar, Senegal.

Eliza is working on a new project with her father to help Camp Hale, a summer camp for innercity Boston boys, where the Dushku family is closely involved in with the Eliza Dushku Foundation.

The 10th Anniversary Awards Dinner will pay tribute to Jessen-Petersen with the NAAC’s Hands of Hope Awards for his historic role in enhancing the lives of the Albanian people in the Balkans, and for his outstanding contribution towards Kosova’s independence.

Also, Bruno Selimaj will receive NAAC’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Previous honorees include President Bill Clinton, Secretaries of State James Baker and Madeleine Albright, Senator Bob Dole and other dignitaries.

Among the dignitaries that will be present at this year’s dinner are Rosemarie DiCarlo, Assistant Deputy Secretary of State; Lutfi Haziri, Deputy Prime Minister Kosova; Fatmir Meidu, Minister of Defense Albania; Veton Surroi, Ora Party, Kosova; Congressman Eliot Engel; Ambassador William Walker; Ahmet Shala, Kosova Trust Agency.

NAAC invites you to attend this important event where tribute will be paid to numerous individuals who have worked tirelessly for the advancement of the Albanian people.