Deli manager who went viral for giving cash for good report cards expands efforts
A deli manager on New York City's Staten Island who encourages students to up their grades in exchange for cash and snacks is expanding his efforts.
For three years, Wail Alselwi has been rewarding students with cash prizes and snacks for high marks and progress on their report cards, and now, Alselwi has funding behind his mission.
A GoFundMe that makes Alselwi's giving possible has risen from $70,000 last summer to over $500,000 this year.
This year, in an effort to help before the school year even got started, Alselwi asked his more than 1 million TikTok followers for assistance to give away school supplies to over 3,000 students.
"First day, I got, like, seven boxes, and then up to 15 to 25 a day. One day, I had 65 boxes in one day," he told ABC News' Danny New in an interview airing Monday.
Alselwi said he donated some of the supplies to local teachers as well.
"I'm glad that I can help," he said.
After his first school supplies giveaway last Tuesday, Alselwi now plans to host another giveaway on Saturday.
Alselwi has gained a following on social media, where he posts videos of himself exchanging cash with students who show him positive progress on their report cards.
"If you're failing, we want to push you to do better," Alselwi said in an interview with ABC News airing Monday. "All you gotta do just pass all your classes, improve, and then we'll give you $100 for improvement."
Alselwi's "grades for cash" program has grown in popularity through the years.
Alselwi says he now sees students from all over the country coming in to show off their grades.
The public has taken notice of the deli manager's good deeds. His program is often celebrated on social media, with several of his TikToks racking up millions of views.
