Tickets for area school sporting events this year will have anew look thanks to a partnership between the schools, advertisersand The DAILY LEADER.

As part of the program, the newspaper had 56,000 tickets printedfor use at participating schools’ athletic contests.

“They’ll be given out at all sporting events throughout theyear,” said David Culpepper, the newspaper’s director ofadvertising and marketing.

Participating schools include Brookhaven Academy, BrookhavenHigh School, Bogue Chitto, Enterprise, Loyd Star and WestLincoln.

The tickets, which will be sold as usual for the events, featurethe school’s name and logo and advertising promoting participatingbusinesses and other sponsors.

Culpepper said the newspaper’s advertising proceeds from thecampaign will be given to participating schools to assist withathletics or academics as determined by their governing boards.

“This is a community involvement and marketing expedition forthe paper,” Culpepper said.

Culpepper said the schools determined the number of tickets thatwill be needed during the year. He said the program will bere-evaluated next year and the number of tickets printed increasedif necessary.

Participating sponsors this year include KDMC Therapy andFitness, Bank of Brookhaven, Posey Auto Center, Dickerson andBowen, Little Caesar’s, Greenbriar Digging Service, BrookhavenPrinting, Honda of Brookhaven and state Rep. Bobby Moak.Advertisers had the opportunity to sponsor all schools orparticular ones.

Culpepper said the newspaper hopes to build on the partnershipnext year.

“We’re looking for a bigger response and hope to be able to givemore money to the schools next year,” he said.