The Masuk High School Athletics Department is looking to score some extra funds this school year by selling space on its scoreboards, fields and scorers' tables.

Rivalry Sports Grille of Monroe and City Stitchers of Derby are the first two businesses to buy space to display their company name and logo at school sports facilities through the Masuk Athletics Corporate Sponsorship program. Their businesses will be promoted on vinyl banners at the school stadium and middle field.

"It has been a long-standing practice that we weren't going to look for corporate sponsorships, but the economic times have made it necessary," said Masuk Athletic Director John DeGennaro. "Last year was the first year that we started advertising for corporate sponsorships. This year, we are getting the word out more and seeing if this is something the corporations and small business would like to do."

The sponsorship opportunities include putting the company name and logo on scoreboards at a starting price of $2,000, on vinyl banners on the fences surrounding the stadium field, the middle field and the upper field starting at $500 and on the gymnasium scorer's table for $1,000.

There is also an option for promotional booths at outdoor sporting events for $250 per event. Each sponsorship is a two-year commitment.

DeGennaro said the program was started in response to increasing pay-for-play surcharges and decreases in the Board of Education's ability to fund the athletic department's budget.

This year, the fee for students participating in a sport has increased $100 with sports requiring a referee at $390 per season and $345 for sports without a referee.

Members of the Masuk hockey team pay a $100 surcharge and the cost of renting ice time. In addition, a $735 cap for families with several children participating in sports has been eliminated.

DeGennaro said proceeds from the sponsorship program will be deposited in a revenue account and will be used as supplemental income.

"It is not something we want to run our day-to-day operations in the athletic department, but certain times things arise that we may need," he said. "We have a quality athletic program and things come up that we don't have in the budget. Like, say an ice machine goes down. We can use this fund to replace it."

DeGennaro said he hopes to raise $3,000 to $5,000 each year in additional sponsorships, but is hesitant to set a goal "in the tough economic times."

However, he is confident that the program can do well with the support of the Masuk All Sports Booster Club which is helping introduce him to potential sponsors and through dedicated supporters like City Stitchers' owner Steve Zazuri, who also supports Masuk's student body fan club, The Red Army.

"We have over 900 student athletes and 700 unique athletes, so the obvious benefit of the sponsorship program is all the fans that come to games," he said. "They get the visual that confirms that this company is supporting Masuk High School Athletics and supporting something positive. The fans see that this company is taking a stake in the community.

"Whether the company operates in town or in the surrounding area, they are saying that they are going to support athletics departments and the sort of goodwill that high school sports provide for the community."

For information about the sponsorship program, call DeGennaro at (203) 452-5823 ext. 7901 or e-mail JDeGennaro@monroeps.org.