STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) \u2014 Who doesn\u2019t love an incentive for performance? Students are being rewarded for their hard work in the classroom at a New York City deli.<\/p>\n
Wail Alselwi, partner at Zack\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
More Local News <\/a><\/p>\n Why has your everyday delicatessen gotten so much attention on an app with so much competition?<\/p>\n Putting smiles on the faces of New York City children by rewarding them for good grades at school appears to be the answer.<\/p>\n Since Alselwi\u2019s 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<\/a>), hundreds of kids have walked through the door to proudly do the same.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cout of [his] own pocket\u201d by paying for the treats himself.<\/p>\n Due to the overwhelming popularity of the incentive with students, he began a fundraiser called \u201cGrades for Grabs\u201d to help keep kids excited to walk through the door with report cards in hand.<\/p>\n More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to be able to continue supporting as many kids as possible through this project,\u201d Alselwi wrote in his post.<\/p>\n \u201cMany 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\u2019s the impact we\u2019re making!\u201d<\/p>\n Since starting the fundraiser in March 2025, Alselwi\u2019s project has received nearly $500,000 from anonymous donors and community members alike.<\/p>\n \u201cThe community of supporters I\u2019ve connected to online is making a genuine difference in the lives of these kids,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI\u2019ve seen a huge difference in kids\u2019 grades, from averaging 60% to now averaging percentages in the 80s and 90s.\u201d<\/p>\n 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 \u201ccommunity-driven initiative that makes learning fun and rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for believing in these kids!\u201d Alselwi wrote.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. <\/a><\/p>\n