NEW YORK, NY – October 10, 2012 – The Eric De La Cruz Hope For Hearts Foundation announced today that Dean Obeidallah, an award-winning comedian, writer for The Huffington Post and frequent CNN contributor, will be an event co-host and co-emcee at the Foundation’s First Annual Autumn Gala. The Hope For Hearts Gala will be held on November 9, in New York City.
The Hope For Hearts Autumn Gala is the Foundation’s major fundraising event of the year, featuring a cocktail hour, followed by a buffet dinner, entertainment, and a silent auction. Noted health care advocate and former insurance industry executive Wendell Potter will keynote the event, and items scheduled to be auctioned off at the event range from a one-week stay at a Thailand resort to anchor-led tours of NBC studios. Recent heart transplant recipient Colby Salerno, whom the Foundation has supported throughout his ordeal, will also be on hand to address attendees. Doors will open at 7:00 pm.
“We are so excited and honored to have Dean Obeidallah co-host the event tihis year,” said Hope For Hearts founder and television news anchor Veronica De La Cruz. “Dean is an incredible comedian and entertainer and we’re happy to bring his talent to delight our audience of supporters.”
Obeidallah has co-starred in Comedy Central’s “Axis of Evil” special and has been seen on ABC’s “The View,” “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen,” MSNBC’s “Up with Chris Hayes,” CNN, and is co-directing the upcoming comedy documentary “The Muslims Are Coming!”
As the Gala’s co-host – along with De La Cruz – Obeidallah will help outline the event’s agenda, introduce special guests and speakers, and provide the opening and closing remarks of the event.
Dean is the co-creator and co-producer of the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival which will hold its 9th annual Festival in October 2012. He also serves as the Executive Director of The Amman Stand up Comedy Festival – the first stand up comedy festival ever held in the Middle East.
“Dean is a great partner to join us at this year’s Hope For Hearts Gala. As an award-winning comedian active in the New York entertainment, cultural and social scenes, Dean will be offer new perspective and humor for all organizations and individuals attending,” explained De La Cruz.
Tickets for the Eric De La Cruz Hope For Hearts Foundation Autumn Gala are now available and sponsorship opportunities are listed on the official event webpage at http://www.hopeforheartsfoundation.org/wordpress1/gala.
About the Eric De La Cruz Hope For Hearts Foundation
The Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides financial assistance, educational resources and advocacy for heart transplant patients. Founded by TV journalist Veronica De La Cruz in honor of her brother Eric, the Foundation exists to fulfill his wish that no heart transplant patient would ever again have to suffer because of a lack of insurance or the inability to pay for life-saving medical treatment.
If you would like to learn more about the Eric De La Cruz Hope For Hearts Foundation, please visit the organization’s website at www.hopeforheartsfoundation.org.
For media inquiries, contact Amy Rosi, Aros Communications at arosi@aroscommunications.com.
