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· collected 2026-09-05 · by Madison Colombo
Wail Alselwi, co-owner of Staten Island's Zack's Finest Deli & Grocery, is rewarding local kids for good grades with cash and free snacks through his "Grades for Grabs" initiative, which started as a simple bet with one student and has since gained national attention. The program has raised over $575,000 on GoFundMe towards its $650,000 goal, allowing Alselwi to reward students with up to $100 in cash and other items. Videos of the initiative have drawn millions of views online, highlighting the impact it's had on local families. Alselwi aims to expand the program nationwide, inspired by his brother who motivated him during a difficult time.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 4861 · logged 2026-09-05
A Staten Island deli owner is turning good grades into cash and free snacks, rewarding local kids for strong report cards and academic progress.
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owner → turn → cards
Zack's Finest Deli & Grocery co-owner and manager Wail Alselwi, widely known by his nickname "Island Ock," said his "Grades for Grabs" initiative evolved from a simple bet with one local student.
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initiative → know → student
"It started with one report card, one kid and one milkshake.
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It → start → card
I had a bet with a kid named Zameir Davis that if he had good grades, he can get to grab whatever he wanted," Alselwi said Saturday on "Fox & Friends Weekend."
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Alselwi → have → whatever
Now thousands of kids come into Zack's Finest Deli to show me their report card," he said.
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he → come → card
Students with high marks can walk out with up to $100 in cash, along with snacks and school supplies.
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Students → walk → snacks
Over the past three years, the program has gained attention on social media, with some videos drawing millions of views.
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videos → gain → views
Clips posted online highlight young people's academic accomplishments and show students and their parents talking about what the program means to them.
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program → post → them
Supporters across the country have also contributed money through a GoFundMe to help keep the program going.
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Supporters → contribute → program
"Man, I want to take the program [to] the next level.
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I → want → level
Like, I [want to] take it into every city in [the] United States, not just to keep it here in New York," Alselwi said.
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Alselwi → want → York
"Their parents want them to participate in this program.
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them → want → program
They believe in it.
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They → believe → it
[They’re] bringing them from different states.
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They → bring → states
Even Canada," he added.
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he → add → ?
The GoFundMe for the initiative has raised more than $575,000 toward its $650,000 goal.
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GoFundMe → raise → goal
Alselwi said he started the program during a dark time in his life and credited his brother with motivating him.
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he → say → him
And my brother motivated me to get back up," Alselwi said.
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Alselwi → motivate → me
