Who will take home bragging rights at the first ever Mr. and Mrs. Manteca contest?
Three local couples are competing in the inaugural contest this Sunday, Jan. 31, at the Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane.
Tickets are $25 each and include a catered dinner and a fun show featuring the All-Star Couples, Mike and Jeni Balmut, Tim and Cindy Goe, as well as Brady and Judi Horton.
This unique event is a new fundraiser for Manteca Youth Focus, a local non-profit youth scholarship and leadership organization. MYF stages the annual scholarship programs for Miss Manteca, Miss Teen Manteca, Miss Young Manteca and City Ambassadors. The organization  came up with the idea for the fundraiser to help ultimately provide over $6,000 in educational scholarships each year for young people between the ages of 10-20.
“People have been joking with me for so many years about doing a ‘mom’s pageant,’ said Shim Lacy-Watson, competition director and MYF co-founder, “but that wasn’t something that really matched with our values about service and leadership. This fun event with an emphasis on fundraising for our scholarship fund is really a perfect match.”
The couples will compete in four areas of competition which consists of pre-sale fundraising including gathering sponsors, raffle donations, selling People’s Choice Awards and Photo Buttons as well as tickets to the dinner show. During the show the couples will be featured on stage in three additional areas which they compete in together with their spouse including Communicative Skills speech on the topic, “My Manteca,” Talent and On-Stage Personality which will be modeled after the classic TV game show “The Newlywed Game.”
In addition to the fun and entertainment provided by the couples, the dinner show will be feature comedian, author and Manteca Bulletin columnist Chris Teicheira who will host the show along with Myklyn Balmut, an MYF alumni, Manteca High grad and former Miss Manteca 2012 and Miss California State 2014. Assistant director, Amanda Rosas, another MYF alumni and former Miss Manteca 2009 and Miss California State 2010, has put together a show with the team “America the Beautiful,” a patriotic show that will include entertainment by talented MYF alums Kristina Stamper (Miss Manteca 2001-02/Miss California State 2003), Robyn Glover (Miss Winter Fest 2013) and current reigning Miss Manteca 2015, Liana Basset.
Judges for the competition include “local celebrity couples” including Mayor Steve DeBrum and his wife Veronica and San Joaquin County Supervisor Bob Elliott and his wife Debbie.
The winning couple will receive a prize package including gift certificates to restaurants and local entertainment establishments and the chance to ride together in the Manteca 4th of July Parade and Manteca Twilight Holiday Parade.
Since 1994 MYF has awarded over $50,000 in educational scholarships to dozens of youth in the community.
For tickets contact Shim Lacy-Watson at 209.518.3915 or email Shim@MantecaYouthFocus.org. For more information on MYF programs for youth visit them on the web at www.MantecaYouthFocus.org.