When you were a child, would you have been more motivated to excel at school if you earned snacks and prizes by getting good grades? That’s exactly what’s happening in Staten Island, NY. A bodega owner by the name of Wail Alselwi is ensuring that the students in his community are recognized for their hard work. If they bring in a report card showing high grades, they get rewarded via his Grades for Grabs program.
How did This Initiative Get Started?
The initiative began in 2023. Wail Alselwi — who is also locally known as “Wally” or “Island Ock” — made a bet with a local boy named Zamier Davies. Alselwi told him that if he improved his grades, he could grab whatever he wanted. Zamier made the honor roll (as you can see in this video), and got his promised reward. The young scholar grabbed a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos; a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, and an Oreo milkshake.
The Grades for Grabs mission statement is for it to be:
“A community-driven initiative that makes learning fun and rewarding. Together, we can create a generation that values hard work, determination, and success!”
People have travelled from across the USA and even parts of Canada to show Alselwi their report cards. Furthermore, many neighborhood kids run to tell him about their test scores before they show their parents.
The prizes that the children choose also speak volumes about what their lives are like. Some run directly to the chip or chocolate aisles. Others buy staples like bread, milk, and ramen to help feed their families.
Alselwi has mentioned that he misses his own children back in Yemen terribly. As such, he enjoys helping his young customers to shine in the pursuit of their own achievements.
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The Higher the Grades, the Greater the Rewards
The goal here is to help kids improve their grades across the board, rather than only rewarding the top-tier achievers. As a result, those who score below 80 percent but still put a great deal of effort into their grades can grab $10 worth of items. Those who score over 90 percent earn whatever snacks they’d like, a $100 bill, and a T-shirt.
Alselwi shared this on the Grades for Grabs GoFundMe page:
“Many kids lack encouragement, and sometimes, all it takes is a small incentive to boost their confidence and push them toward greatness. Imagine a student working extra hard to improve their grades, knowing their effort will be recognized and celebrated. That’s the impact we’re making!”
It’s an amazing initiative from someone who’s sincerely invested in his community. Alselwi seems to remember just about everyone who walks through his door regularly. He greets students by name and remembers their favorite sandwiches. His memory extends to how their family members are doing, and who their favorite athletes and celebrities are.
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How to Get Involved
Zack’s Finest Deli is located at 69 Heberton Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302. You’ll find it at the corner of Heberton Avenue and Ann Street. If your child has done well at school this year, and you’re in the area, drop by and share that achivement!
If you’d like to contribute to this initiative, you can donate here:
Fundraiser by Wail Alselwi : Inspire Academic Excellence with Islandock
Your donation will help to provide:
- Free snacks as instant rewards for students who improve their grades
- Cash prizes to motivate kids to reach higher academic goals
- A community-driven initiative that makes learning fun and rewarding
Alternatively (or in addition), you can help to spread the word via the initiative’s social media pages:
Featured image © Vadimgozhda and © Kwangmoo via Dreamstime