Instead of a trophy, there may be snacks.
Instead of a school certificate, there may be a $100 bill.
Instead of an auditorium, there is a neighborhood store.
But the underlying message remains the same.
Someone saw the effort.
Someone cared.
Someone said, “Keep going.”
One Deli, One Student, Thousands of Supporters
What makes Wail Alselwi’s story memorable is not simply the amount of money raised.
It is the chain reaction.
A child improved his grades.
A deli owner kept a promise.
A video attracted attention.
Other children wanted to participate.
Parents began sharing the experience.
Viewers wanted to help.
Donations followed.
The program expanded.
And eventually, hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised to keep the effort going.
The story demonstrates how quickly a small act can grow when it gives people something positive to believe in.
There is no complicated formula behind it.
A student works hard.
Someone recognizes that effort.
The recognition inspires another student.
The cycle continues.
For Alselwi, the deli has become more than a place where people buy food.
For many of the students who visit, it has become a place where their accomplishments are celebrated.
And for thousands of donors, it has become an opportunity to invest in an idea that is easy to understand: children deserve encouragement when they work hard.
The money raised may continue to grow.
The number of students may continue to increase.
The videos may continue to reach new audiences.
But the original idea remains remarkably simple.
A report card can represent months of effort.
A small reward can make that effort feel visible.
And a few words of encouragement can sometimes stay with a child much longer than the reward itself.
That is how a simple promise at a Staten Island deli became “Grades for Grabs”—a community-supported effort built around academic achievement, personal improvement and the belief that hard work deserves to be noticed.
Good grades.
Improvement.
Free food.
Cash rewards.
School supplies.
And now, more than $600,000 raised by thousands of supporters to help keep the idea alive. GoFundMe
What started with one child and one small promise became something much bigger—not because it began with a huge organization, but because people saw value in a simple message:
Keep working. Keep improving. And never underestimate what a little encouragement can do.
Sources used
- The Washington Post — detailed reporting on the origins, rewards and impact of “Grades for Grabs.” The Washington Post
- NBC News / NBC New York — reporting on students, academic improvement and how the program works. NBC New York
- ABC News / Good Morning America — coverage of the program's expansion and fundraising growth in 2026. ABC News
- ABC News — coverage of students exchanging good grades for food and other rewards. ABC News
- Official GoFundMe campaign — current fundraising total and the organizer's description of how donations support the initiative. GoFundMe