The New Orleans Zephyrs have partnered with the Dawn Busters Rewards for Reading Program to offer local youth a chance to win free tickets to see the Zephyrs during the 2011 season, and even a chance to meet the team at an autograph signing session!

The program sponsors 17 schools in the Greater New Orleans Area, with the kids at Harold Keller and Rudolph Matas Elementary Schools receiving a special treat last week with a surprise visit from Boudreaux, who was on hand to encourage the kids to meet their reading goals.

"The kids went wild when Boudreaux made his entrance!" said Mel Dussel, President-Elect of Dawn Busters Kiwanis.

Every child that participates in the reading program will receive passes for two to a 2011 Zephyrs game, with a chance to earn tickets in both the fall and spring, meaning the Zephyrs could donate as many as 12,000 tickets to participating children.

The boy who reads the most books from each of the 17 schools in the fall and spring will be invited to an exclusive event where they can meet the team and get autographs, while the boy who reads the most books overall will receive a bicycle and a Zephyrs "Fireworks Package" of season tickets.

Dawn Busters Rewards for Reading will be giving out other incentives, such as 12,000 bowling passes from AMF All-Star Lanes, 400 "free pizza" cards from Domino's Pizza, 56 new bicycles, helmets and lock and chain sets, 21 iPods, and 34 DVD/mp3 players.

Two teachers from each school will receive gifts from Dawn Busters to say thanks for all of the work they put into the project.

"This has always been a fantastic program, and the children have responded," Dussel said. "But this year is going to be absolutely crazy."