The Not-So Newlywed Game

Five couples from Southeast Texas are vying for the title of winners of “The Not-So Newlywed Game,” the sixth annual fundraising event for Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas to be held Thursday, Feb. 1, at Beaumont’s Downtown Event Centre with doors opening at 5:45 p.m.

“The Not-So Newlywed Game” is a twist of the original “The Newlywed Game,” which was created in 1966 and went on to become one of the best game shows of all time lasting nearly 50 years on TV.

Originally hosted by Bob Eubanks, the game show pit newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know or do not know each other. The weekly game show became an instant hit with the television audience thanks to the incorrect answers and the “making whoopee” euphemism, which was made famous by Eubanks.

How the game works, the couples are currently raising money and sponsorships. With every dollar raised per couple, that $1 equals one vote. Donations start at $50. At the event, the couples will be on stage with game hosts Katie and Frank Celli, who will ask the couples multiple rounds of questions. Right answers will then be factored in with the amount of money raised for the couples, which then will be added together and determined the winner. For questions that are not exactly right, the couples can then ask for clarification from the judges, who will be Sherrie and Jeff Branick and Lindsay and Baylor Wortham.

So, who are the couples?

Jennifer and Chris Burch, Kristi and Don Dodd, Naomi and Earnest Doyle, Sandra and Cary Erickson and Jamie and James Scott.

“Our service area includes all of Southeast Texas with physical locations in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange and Silsbee,” said Brooke Loupe, community engagement coordinator for Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas. “We try to pick one couple from each area that we serve.”

The Burches were set up on a blind date via their grandparents in Orange, then married during Hurricane Ike. They own Best Hospice Care of Texas and Rosemary House Assisted Living. When not working, they are blessed with five doodles and two vivacious daughters.

The Dodds could be a match made in Heaven-or a cunning connection crafted by a marketing genius knew what she wanted when she saw it. An overall wearing Kristi (it was the 90s afterall) made her move during the St. Anthony Cathedral annual “Cow Dump” fundraiser. Now, 24 years later, the captive Don and captivating Kristi enjoying the most awesome grandbabies, busy careers, bustling social life shared with family and friends. Don is the Publisher and CEO of The Examiner newspaper and Southeast Texas Business Journal. Kristi is the Marketing Manager for the Business Journal brand that the couple raised from scratch.

The Doyles met in 2009, when Naomi was selling Earnest a phone at the local Sprint store. That day, he got a bundle package – a new phone, phone case, Bluetooth and Naomi. They enjoy serving the community and being active in their three children’s numerous activities. While a busy family, they find joy participating in half marathons, Spartan races and workout competitions.

The Ericksons are from Southeast Texas and graduated from Lamar University, but did not meet until later when they were introduced by a mutual friend. A 30-year marriage includes a blended family with five adult children and eight grandchildren. They are involved in many community events and activities.

The Scotts met at a middle school dance when James asked Jamie to dance and the rest is history. They have been married for nearly 15 years and have two beautiful daughters – Audrey and Olivia. They enjoy spending time with family and friends and traveling as much as they can.

Individual tickets to the event start at $100 while sponsorships are still available from $300-$5,000. Tickets, voting, sponsorships and donations can all be done online at sccset.org.

Those who attend the evening can enjoy a wine and liquor pull, silent auction, appetizers, full dinner and open bar.

“The Not-So Newlywed Game” will also honor St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church of Beaumont, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Silsbee and First United Methodist Church in Orange.

“The three satellite locations are actually in those three churches,” said Loupe. “They provide us space in their church to help provide mental health services to everyone in the community. It saves us a tremendous amount of money, which means more funds get to go back to help service Southeast Texans, so we definitely wanted to honor their commitment and sacrifices that are made to make all these services possible.”

The Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas is a nonprofit counseling organization that uses the concept of mind, body and spirit to promote the healing and growth of people and the reconciliation of couples, families and organizations. This integration of behavioral sciences and faith traditions is their foundational base for counseling.

“We provide mental and behavioral health service for ages 5 and up with individual counseling, family counseling and more than 50% of our clients are under the age of 18,” added Loupe. “We have ‘place therapy’ and partnerships with services at each of the churches and local school districts, so the clients don’t have to worry about transportation or obstacles to receive their services.

“We are nonprofit, so if someone doesn’t have insurance, we will find a rate that works for them and that’s where the ‘Not-So Newlywed Game’ fundraising comes in. It’s our only fundraiser of the year.”

For detailed information about the Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas or “The Not-So Newlywed Game,” call (409) 727-6400 or visit their website at sccset.org.