Staten Island Deli Program Raises $575,000 to Reward Students Nationwide

Q: Why are honor roll students using their hard-earned deli rewards to buy basic household groceries instead of candy?

Because some of the students and their families need essentials more than treats. In Wail “Wally” Alselwi’s “Grades for Grabs” program, children who earn strong grades or show improvement can take cash and items from the deli, but reports and Alselwi’s own videos show that some students choose basics such as bread, eggs, rice and cooking oil instead of candy or snacks. That choice suggests the rewards are doing more than celebrating school success. For some families, the program is helping cover everyday household needs. The fact that honor roll students are using their rewards on staple groceries underscores the economic pressure some households are under and shows that the benefit reaches beyond the individual child. It also reflects how Alselwi structured the initiative. He allows students to choose what they need, not just what is fun, so the reward can become practical support for the home. In that way, the program motivates academic effort while also revealing a quieter reality: some children see a good report card as a chance to help feed their families.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 5

$575,000 has been raised toward a $650,000 goal to expand Staten Island deli owner Wail Alselwi’s “Grades for Grabs” program beyond New York.
The initiative rewards students who bring in strong report cards or show academic progress with up to $100 in cash, plus snacks and school supplies.
Alselwi said the program began with one student and a milkshake bet, then grew into a local draw for thousands of children over three years.
Millions of social-media views and donations from supporters across the country have helped turn the deli-based effort into a national expansion push.