STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Arctic temperatures and an impending snowstorm did not stop members of the Albanian community from turning out for a fashion show to raise money to fight pediatric cancer.
Guests began arriving at the 103-year-old, historically landmarked Grand Colony Hall in Seaview at 5 p.m., for an evening filled with models showcasing dazzling evening gowns.
Adelina Veliu, a board member of the Albanian organization Zëri Ynë – Our Voice, said she helped put together the event, a first for the organization, to showcase local designers, build community, and raise money for childhood cancer, with over $3,000 already donated to Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.
Zëri Ynë – Our Voice, which has members throughout New York City and New Jersey, primarily serves the Albanian community in Staten Island, specifically the Dibran population.
In welcoming the guests, Velie said, “Tonight, we gather our community together with a meaningful purpose. We bring the worlds of fashion, beauty, and talent together for the sake of charity. Tonight, beauty & compassion take center stage.
Leunora Abdulai started the organization twenty years ago as an informal group of women focused on charity and celebrating International Women’s Day.
Abdulai explained that as the organization grew, they registered as a nonprofit organization. “We are a public charity. We share family values and like to help people in need, and unfortunately, nowadays, there are so many people in need of help.”
The show featured two honored guests, Gabriella Marinelli, Miss Staten Island 2026, and Samantha Sarelli, Miss Globe USA 2025.
Marinelli, who lives in Dongan Hills and works as an assistant producer for ABC’s Good Morning America show, praises the Albanian community for its positive economic impact, noting their success as business owners and the recent boom in new shops and restaurants.
She went on to say, “In recent years, the Albanian community has really boomed on Staten Island. And I have to say, they are all great business owners. They help fuel our local economy, and they bring really hard workers to the community.”
Sarelli, the first Albanian-American to hold the title of Miss Globe USA, explained that she is the daughter of immigrants who instilled in her the value of giving back.
She emphasized her desire for a legacy of purpose beyond beauty and glamor, detailing her extensive work over the last six years to combat human trafficking. “I was first inspired to do this work because one of my mother’s friends was trafficked in Albania.”
Sarelli continued by saying, “My message tonight for all the women in the room is whatever your talent may be, whether that’s business, politics, law, education, art, or motherhood, use it for something bigger than you.
I truly believe that when women really use our voices, we can come together to change the world and make it a better place. But we do that when we uplift one another, when we believe in one another, and we stand by one another.”