The Aporia · Staten Island deli owner goes viral for rewarding cash, snacks to kids with good grades

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 locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-05, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

Story summary

Wail Alselwi, co-owner of Zack's Finest Deli & Grocery in Staten Island, started an initiative called "Grades for Grabs" after making a bet with one student, Zameir Davis, that if he got good grades, he could get free treats. The program has since grown and now thousands of students come to the deli to show off their report cards, earning up to $100 in cash, snacks, and school supplies. Over the past three years, the program has gained attention online, with some videos getting millions of views. Supporters have also contributed money through a GoFundMe to help keep it going.

Written for “Staten Island School Incentive Program” on 2026-10-21, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Staten Island School Incentive Program

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A Staten Island deli owner is turning good grades into cash and free snacks, rewarding local kids for strong report cards and academic progress. asserted

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. asserted

initiative → know → student

"It started with one report card, one kid and one milkshake. asserted

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." asserted

Alselwi → have → whatever

Now thousands of kids come into Zack's Finest Deli to show me their report card," he said. asserted

he → come → card

Students with high marks can walk out with up to $100 in cash, along with snacks and school supplies. asserted

Students → walk → snacks

Over the past three years, the program has gained attention on social media, with some videos drawing millions of views. asserted

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. asserted

program → post → them

Supporters across the country have also contributed money through a GoFundMe to help keep the program going. asserted

Supporters → contribute → program

"Man, I want to take the program [to] the next level. asserted

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. asserted

Alselwi → want → York

"Their parents want them to participate in this program. asserted

them → want → program

They believe in it. asserted

They → believe → it

[They’re] bringing them from different states. asserted

They → bring → states

Even Canada," he added. asserted

he → add → ?

The GoFundMe for the initiative has raised more than $575,000 toward its $650,000 goal. asserted

GoFundMe → raise → goal

Alselwi said he started the program during a dark time in his life and credited his brother with motivating him. asserted

he → say → him

And my brother motivated me to get back up," Alselwi said. asserted

Alselwi → motivate → me

Staten Island deli owner goes viral for rewarding cash, snacks to kids with good grades

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