BSHS Principal Mike Ritchey said he has become aware of these groups within the past few weeks.

“There have been representatives from outside sales companies contacting businesses asking them to donate money or advertise on items such as T-shirts and souvenir footballs that are given away at our games during the year,” Ritchey said. “We want people to know that these actions are not authorized by the school district.”

The vendors are not doing anything illegal — they do provide products for the school district — but they are not affiliated with the school and they are not acting with the district's approval, he added.

“What makes it legal is that we receive the product,” he said. “What makes it shaky is we didn't authorize it ... and some of these people are misrepresenting themselves as (BSHS) sponsors, which they aren't.”

Ritchey said people needed to be aware that not all the money raised by the outside companies remains in the community.

“What upsets me is that when these companies come in ... 40 percent of the sales go to that company; they don't stay here,” he said. “If we do fund-raisers ourselves, the proceeds remain here in Big Spring.”

If approached for a school-related fund-raiser, Ritchey urged persons with doubts as to the validity of the activity to contact the school district.

“If they are not school personnel — or a business — they know, please, please, please contact the high school,” he said.

Persons with questions are urged to contact the high school at 264-3641 or the district's central office at 264-3600.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it