CBS Sports Anchor Steve Overmyer with Veronica at her NYC shower
The popular host of NBC’s Early Today Show, MSNBC’s First Look anchor, and noted founder of the Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation that aids heart transplant patients, Veronica De La Cruz, was feted recently to celebrate the rapidly approaching birth of her first child.
The New York City baby shower, held at L’Amant in the West Village, was attended by numerous notable faces including world-renown opera singer Alyson Cambridge, celebrity doula Latham Thomas, author Meryl Hartstein, actress Bree Michael Warner, actor, model and producer Brandon Yankowitz, CBS Sports anchor Steve Overmyer, as well as colleagues of De La Cruz’s from the peacock network and MSNBC.
The popular anchor was also showered with baby gifts in Los Angeles at the classic Hollywood restaurant Off Vine where it was a family affair attended by notable names in the music industry, as De La Cruz got her start as a music journalist. Attendees included KCRW DJs Valida, and Dan Wilcox who attended with wife and children, head of GoldenVoice and Coachella Festival founder Paul Tollet, URB magazine founder and long-time LA music veteran Raymond Roker who also brought along his family, as well as CSI Actor Archie Kao, who all came together to celebrate the mama-to-be.
Of the bi-coastal baby showers for the mommy-to-be, De La Cruz glowingly said, “It’s incredible to be able to share this moment with so many of my wonderful friends. I can’t wait to share my greatest passions with my baby, whether they come from the world of music or media. I am also looking forward to teaching my little one to give back”, she said. De La Cruz says she will be unveiling big plans for a new non-profit that will launch later this year. “There is no greater joy than the joy of giving back. It’s something I plan on instilling in my child’s life very early on.”
Prior to joining MSNBC in 2010, De La Cruz spent five and a half years at CNN Worldwide, serving as an anchor and correspondent. Most recently, she was a correspondent for CNN’s “American Morning.” In addition, she founded and anchored CNN Pipeline and created the segment “Dotcom Desk.” During her tenure at CNN, De La Cruz anchored and reported live coverage of major breaking news stories such as Hurricane Katrina, the Southeast Asian Tsunami, the 2008 presidential elections, the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, the death of Ronald Reagan, the collapse of Wall Street, the housing market crash, and a series that celebrated diversity entitled “Asian in America.”
Before joining CNN in 2003, De La Cruz anchored and reported for KYMA, an NBC News affiliate in Yuma, Arizona. During her tenure at KYMA, De La Cruz covered pertinent issues such as immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border, the nation’s growing shortage of qualified nurses, and the plight of the migrant farm worker and a special series on the homeless in the Yuma area.
De La Cruz began her career in broadcasting, hosting a music show she created called “Direct Drive” on the Digital Entertainment Network, where she interviewed countless musicians and bands. She also served as a host for SonicNet and Eruptor Entertainment’s “Living Giant.”
In addition to her role as an MSNBC anchor, Veronica De La Cruz is an active volunteer with groups promoting healthcare reform and started the non-profit Eric De La Cruz’s Hope for Hearts Foundation in honor of her brother Eric, who passed away after a struggle to get health insurance with a pre-existing medical condition.
Recently, she spent considerable time in Europe reporting and researching the international differences in health care policy.
Prior to her career in journalism, De La Cruz spent a decade of her life as a competitive figure skater. She is a member of the Asian American Journalists Association. She also mentors students at the Associated Press Television-Radio Association’s academy as well as other university students, most recently doing so in Paris. She resides in New York City.