Attorney General's News Release

May 21, 1997

Nixon warns area businesses of ad solicitation for sports schedule that has no connection with local schools

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today cautioned business owners in the Jefferson City area about purchasing ads in a high school sports schedule poster from a Colorado company. Nixon's office has received complaints recently from area merchants who have been solicited over the telephone and through the mail by High School Programs Inc., of Englewood, Colo.

Businesses are asked to purchase ads at a cost from $25 to $300 on a poster that is supposed to contain schedules for various local high school athletic teams. The solicitations refer to these ads as "support ads" and "sponsor ads" in the "1997 Jefferson City Area High School soccer and volleyball schedule."

Merchants later receive invoices thanking them for "supporting high school athletics." Nixon said that High School Programs had no connection with Jefferson City High School or other local high schools and does not provide any financial support to the schools or their athletic programs, as businesses are led to believe.

"In many cases, these out-of-state companies that sell ads for sports schedule posters exploit the good will that boosters have for their local high schools," Nixon said. "Unfortunately, the schools receive no real benefit from the posters. If you want to support your local high school, contact the athletic director or the booster club at the school to find out the best way to do this."

The solicitation from High School Programs states that "Statistics show that students who participate (in athletics) ... HAVE HIGHER GRADE POINT AVERAGES ARE LESS LIKELY TO DROP OUT HAVE BETTER ATTENDANCE"

"That statement may very well be true," Nixon said, "but it has nothing to do with this poster."

If business owners have received solicitations of this nature, they are asked to contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818