A Staten Island deli manager who started giving neighbourhood children cash and free snacks for getting top marks three years ago has turned his small reward programme into a major community effort, raising more than $500,000 (£380,000) to provide school supplies to 3,000 students. Wail “Wally” Alselwi, who manages the express deli on Staten Island and is known locally as "Island Ock", first became widely known online after sharing videos in which he gave students cash and let them choose anything they wanted from his store in return for straight-A report cards. Reporting by ABC News and Good Morning America shows how Alselwi’s viral school reward programme grew into a major fundraising campaign. It eventually led to a large back-to-school giveaway for thousands of local children before the new school year.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
