In a world that often overlooks small acts of kindness, one Staten Island bodega owner is proving that believing in young people can create extraordinary ripple effects throughout an entire community.

Wail Alselwi, affectionately known as "Wally" or "Island Ock" by his neighborhood, launched his "Grades for Grabs" initiative in 2023 with a simple but powerful idea: reward students for their academic achievements. What began as a friendly wager with 12-year-old Zamier Davies has evolved into a movement that's inspiring children across multiple states to reach for academic excellence.

The program's origin story is beautifully simple. Alselwi bet young Zamier that if he improved his grades, he'd earn a free Oreo milkshake. Zamier rose to the challenge, climbing from the high 80s straight onto the honor roll. True to his word, Alselwi documented the reward on TikTok, and the video touched millions of viewers who were moved by this genuine display of community support.

Since then, students have been streaming into the bodega with report cards in hand, eager to share their accomplishments with someone who truly celebrates their hard work. The rewards vary—sometimes it's cash, sometimes it's snacks, sometimes it's merchandise—but the real gift is the message these children receive: your effort matters, and your community is proud of you.

One particularly touching moment involved fourth-grader Maleek, who traveled all the way from Pennsylvania with a stellar 97% grade average. Alselwi awarded him $100 and invited him to choose anything from the store. What happened next reveals the beautiful character of both the giver and receiver: Maleek initially selected only practical groceries for his family—bread, eggs, and rice.

"Keep grabbing, keep grabbing," Alselwi encouraged the humble student. "Listen, you deserve this. You did good in school, okay?" Eventually, Maleek shyly returned with an armful of Flamin' Hot Cheetos, thanking "Island Ock" for the recognition.

Behind Alselwi's generous spirit lies a deeply personal motivation. Separated from his own children back in Yemen, he channels his paternal love into supporting the young people in his adopted community. "My biggest dream in my life is to bring my children, my own children, here to America," he shared with heartfelt honesty.

To sustain this beautiful initiative, Alselwi established a GoFundMe campaign that has raised an impressive $377,378 toward a $400,000 goal—a testament to how his message of educational empowerment resonates far beyond Staten Island.

For Alselwi, the monetary value of the rewards is secondary to something far more precious: showing children that their dedication to learning is seen, valued, and celebrated. "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," he explained. "The most important thing is you celebrate them and you show them that you really care about their hard work."

In celebrating students' achievements, Island Ock isn't just giving away free food—he's investing in futures, building confidence, and creating a community where success is contagious and every child knows someone believes in them.