The Booster Association for the Westlake High School Instrumental Music Department has initiated a major campaign to enlist local businesses and enterprises as sponsors.

The high costs of running a program with Westlake's broad scope has run up against the state's budget crisis, making the community's support necessary to the program's operation.

The initiative to line up sponsors for the 2009 calendar year will run Jan. 31.

The program's goal is to raise $15,000 in sponsorships, along with generating donations for the department's upcoming dinner dance and auction scheduled for Feb. 8.

The sponsorships begin at the patron level, offering a business cardsize ad in the annual yearbook for $50.

The highest level of sponsorship is the platinum level. For $1,000, the sponsoring business receives benefits including a listing in all event programs, a custom banner displayed at all events, recognition in bi-monthly e-news, and a full-page ad in the yearbook.

The music department is comprised of more than 250 families with ties to the community.

"Our goal is to demonstrate to local businesses the benefits they can receive by marketing their enterprises to the hundreds of 'friends of music' families in the community," said Susan Cotton, the Booster Association's vice president of development.

For more information, call Cotton (805) 908-1446 or e-mail scotton@whsband.org or visit www.whsband.org.