Wail Alselwi, co-owner and supervisor of Zack’s Best Deli & Grocery in Staten Island, New York, rewards the laborious work of neighborhood college students.
“Island Ock, I got my report card, man,” a younger lady in braids says as she enters Zack’s Best Deli & Grocery, a bodega in Staten Island, New York. “It’s better than ever.”
Her identify is Madison and he or she’s a 17-year-old highschool junior who desires of turning into an expert basketball participant sooner or later. However till then, she’s specializing in her grades, in line with a heartwarming TikTok.
“Madison!” exclaims Wail Alselwi, the “Island Ock” in query, supervisor and co-owner of Zack’s. Also called Wally to regulars, he directs his consideration to her report card.
“Last time it was 98, then it was 99. What is it this time?” he asks.
“Now it’s 100,” Madison says, proudly.
“You know what happens, right?” Alselwi responds, then palms her $100 and permits her to select snacks from the shop. She opts for Smarties, M&M’s and another goodies.
Madison has been in earlier than, exhibiting off excessive marks and receiving her prize, like many different college students on Alselwi’s TikTok account.
He says college students who earn a median of 80 — 90% are awarded no matter they need from the shop, and those that get between 70 — 80% can take residence $10 price of things. College students with decrease grades who present enchancment additionally get goodies, and the identical goes for youths with good attendance or who’re awarded scholar of the month.
If a child will get 90% or larger, he presents them their decide of goodies from the shop, in addition to a $100 invoice and a T-shirt.
“I like seeing the smile on their faces,” Alselwi tells TODAY.com. “Man, it makes me happy.”
Talking to TODAY.com whereas behind his bodega’s counter, Alselwi pauses the dialog to assist a buyer, joking a few significantly excessive until of $67.
“Don’t be short, bro, be tall today,” he says, filling his store with laughter.
Alselwi says he began the report card incentive in 2023 in a bid to encourage a neighborhood child, Zamier Davies, to enhance his grades.
“I just wanted to help him make the honor roll, and he couldn’t make it even though he worked so hard for it,” says Alselwi.
He promised the then-12-year-old that if he bought good grades, he would give him one thing within the retailer totally free.
It labored: Davies first labored his manner as much as an 88% and selected an Oreo milkshake as his prize. Then, he reached 89% and added an egg and cheese and chips to his prize. By the tip of the 12 months, Davies made the distinction roll — and Alselwi’s video on the feat garnered tens of millions of views.
“A lot of kids started coming to show me their report card,” he says, including that youngsters from so far as Pennsylvania have stopped by.
Now an eighth grader trying ahead to highschool within the fall, Davies tells TODAY.com he’s interested by a profession in tech.
His uncle, Jerome Ivory, says that whereas the Oreo milkshakes have been appreciated, his nephew discovered the energy from inside to enhance his marks.
“He was always good at his grades,” Ivory tells TODAY.com. “It was principally a wager that he made with himself — and Wally.”
Alselwi is from Yemen and his three youngsters nonetheless dwell there.
“I got my own kids back home, and I miss them, so it makes me happy to see other kids happy,” Alselwi says. “I see my own kids in front of me.”
Alselwi says he additionally finds pleasure from those that supply him encouraging phrases and blessings on TikTok.
So many individuals have reached out asking how they can assist him along with his initiative that his brother began a GoFundMe in his identify — and it’s raised practically $50,000.
“I cannot do it by myself,” says Alselwi. “My fans comment and they celebrate these kids with me and they acknowledge them with me. Let’s say I’m giving them $100 or if I’m giving them snacks for free or a T-shirt, to me, that does not matter. The most important thing is you celebrate them and you show them that you really care about their hard work.”
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. Extra from TODAY:
