STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) — Who doesn’t love an incentive for performance? Students are being rewarded for their hard work in the classroom at a New York City deli.
Wail Alselwi, partner at Zack’s Finest Deli in Staten Island, has made a name for the store and himself on social media with over 740,000 TikTok followers and 14.5 million likes since starting the account in 2023.
Why has your everyday delicatessen gotten so much attention on an app with so much competition?
Putting smiles on the faces of New York City children by rewarding them for good grades at school appears to be the answer.
Since Alselwi’s first video of a student sharing their good-looking report card for a free snack at the shop in 2024 was posted (under the TikTok username islandock1), hundreds of kids have walked through the door to proudly do the same.
Millions of users on the app have taken a liking to the creative way of inspiring the next generation to aim for higher academic goals. Since its inception, Alselwi has, in his words, supported the idea “out of [his] own pocket” by paying for the treats himself.
Due to the overwhelming popularity of the incentive with students, he began a fundraiser called “Grades for Grabs” to help keep kids excited to walk through the door with report cards in hand.
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“I’d like to be able to continue supporting as many kids as possible through this project,” Alselwi wrote in his post.
“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!”
Since starting the fundraiser in March 2025, Alselwi’s project has received nearly $500,000 from anonymous donors and community members alike.
“The community of supporters I’ve connected to online is making a genuine difference in the lives of these kids,” he wrote. “I’ve seen a huge difference in kids’ grades, from averaging 60% to now averaging percentages in the 80s and 90s.”
Donations help provide free snacks as an instant reward for improved grades, cash prizes for reaching higher academic goals, and keep the dream alive for a “community-driven initiative that makes learning fun and rewarding.”
“Thank you for believing in these kids!” Alselwi wrote.
Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work here.
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