Jon Lester

The children of Boston will reap additional benefits as People's United Bank, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and professional pitcher Jon Lester, who serves as the bank's Massachusetts marketing spokesperson, up the ante in supporting ReadBoston, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that Boston children are proficient readers.

Adding to an existing relationship with ReadBoston, People's United has committed to make a $31 donation - matching the number on Lester's uniform - to the organization for every Lester strikeout up to $5,000.