New York Deli Owner Turns Good Grades Into Cash, Snacks and a $600,000 Community Movement
In a neighborhood deli on Staten Island, New York, something unusual began happening whenever the school year came to an end.
Instead of children walking into the store simply to buy a snack, some began arriving with something far more valuable in their hands: their report cards.
They would approach the counter, sometimes excited and sometimes nervous, and show their grades to Wail Alselwi, a co-owner and manager of Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery. Alselwi, who is better known online as “Island Ock,” would look over the report card, congratulate the student and, depending on the student’s achievement or improvement, offer cash, food, snacks, school supplies or other items from the store.
What began as a small promise to encourage one child eventually became a program called “Grades for Grabs.” Over time, the idea spread far beyond the Staten Island neighborhood where it started. Videos of students proudly presenting their report cards attracted millions of views, and supporters from around the country began contributing money to help Alselwi continue rewarding young people.
By late summer 2026, ABC News reported that the GoFundMe supporting Alselwi’s initiative had grown from about $70,000 the previous summer to more than $500,000. The fundraiser’s own page has since shown more than $600,000 raised. ABC News
The story is not really about a deli giving away free food.
It is about what can happen when an ordinary neighborhood business becomes a place where children feel that their effort is noticed.
It Started With One Student
The origins of “Grades for Grabs” were remarkably simple.
According to reporting from The Washington Post and NBC News, Alselwi’s program grew out of a friendly agreement with a young student named Zameir Davis. The initial idea was not designed as a large fundraising campaign or a nationwide movement. It was simply an informal promise meant to encourage a child to work harder in school.
Davis was around 12 years old at the time. Alselwi challenged him to improve his grades, offering a small reward if he succeeded. Other accounts describe the original incentive as an Oreo milkshake, while the broader promise involved letting the student choose something from the deli if he returned with improved grades. Good Good Good
The student did better.
Alselwi kept his promise.
And then he recorded the moment.
The video showed something simple but powerful: a child who had worked to improve academically receiving recognition from an adult in his community.
The video spread online.
Millions of people watched.
Soon, other children began asking whether they could participate too.
That was the moment when a small personal gesture began turning into something much larger.
From a Deli Counter to a Community Program
Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery is not a school, nonprofit organization or government program.
It is a neighborhood business.
Yet the store gradually became a place where students could celebrate academic progress.
The concept behind “Grades for Grabs” is straightforward. Students bring their report cards to the store, and Alselwi reviews their grades. Students who achieve strong marks can receive rewards, while students who may not have top grades but demonstrate meaningful improvement can also be recognized.
That second part is important.
The program is not simply about rewarding students who already perform at the highest level.
Alselwi has repeatedly emphasized improvement as part of the idea. NBC News reported that students with lower grades who demonstrate progress can receive goodies, while students with achievements such as perfect attendance or being named student of the month have also been recognized. NBC New York
ABC News similarly reported in August 2026 that Alselwi described the program as encouraging students who are struggling to pass their classes and improve their performance. ABC News
That approach changes the meaning of the reward.
A student who already has excellent grades can be celebrated.
But so can a student who was struggling and finally manages to turn things around.
For some children, that distinction can be significant.
Academic success does not look the same for every student. One child may be trying to maintain a 95 percent average. Another may be working to move from failing grades to passing grades. Another may simply be trying to improve attendance or complete assignments consistently.
“Grades for Grabs” attempts to recognize those different forms of progress.
What Do Students Receive?
The rewards vary depending on the student and the achievement.
The Washington Post reported that students with averages above 90 percent could receive $100, a T-shirt and the opportunity to select items from the store. Students with lower grades but noticeable improvement could also receive treats and encouragement. The Washington Post
NBC News reported similar details, noting that students who demonstrate improvement can receive free goods, while students with especially strong grades can receive more substantial rewards. NBC New York
For children, the experience is about more than the actual value of the reward.
Imagine being a student who has spent months studying for tests, completing homework and trying to raise a difficult grade.
Then you walk into a familiar neighborhood store.
Someone looks at your report card.
Instead of asking what went wrong, they say, “You did it.”
They congratulate you.
They celebrate your improvement.
And then they give you something as a tangible reminder that your effort mattered.