After divorcing when she was 42, Rye resident Kelly Goldstein, the mother of young twins, re-entered the dating scene.
What followed were countless failed dates and lonely nights, and a feeling of hopelessness. Nevertheless, she trudged on and continued to search. Finally, after two failed relationships, Goldstein matched with someone on match.com, and went on the date that would change her life forever.
“After only three dates we were in love,” Goldstein said, describing her current husband, Jay Goldstein. They have been together for 10 years, married for six, but according to Goldstein, finding him “was a full-time job.”
After settling down with Jay, Goldstein found herself effortlessly setting friends up with each other, and found she liked it. One of her friends suggested she turn her talent into something more. “I have always loved meeting new people as well as connecting them with others,” said Goldstein.
With skills developed when she received a masters’ degree in counseling from Fordham University, and her friends’ encouragement, Goldstein started Catch Me A Catch, a matchmaking service for adults 25 to 75 years old.
Although she has a full-time job at the French-American School as director of extension program and camps, starting this side-gig was game-changing. She was inspired by her own effort to find the love of her life, and wanted to make others’ dreams come true as well.
Catch Me A Catch officially launched in November of 2023, and since then, Goldstein said, two couples have just celebrated their one-year anniversary and others have been officially dating for multiple months.
Even if someone doesn’t meet the love of their life through Goldstein’s services, many use it as a way to get back out on the dating scene and meet people with similar experiences. Or, in some cases, end up with some great friends.
Goldstein’s most popular service, A La Carte, offers a month free in her matchmaking database followed by a monthly fee of $25. There also is a fee of $200 per hour for a consultation, and additional costs depending on the number of dates attended with different people.
Goldstein also offers five different flat fee packages that range in price from $500 to $1,500. Pricing depends on the amount of research Goldstein conducts to find a match, the amount of consultation time she offers, the number of dates arranged, and the amount of time a client remains in her database.
Goldstein said it takes a lot of work to get back on the dating scene, and she helps her clients by sharing her own relatable stories. “I wish I had a ‘me’ when I was dating,” she said.
For Goldstein, it’s about giving others strong support in their dating experience, and showing them that no matter what, there is somebody out there for them.
