New York Deli Manager Rewards Diligent Youths, Staten Island Borough President Praised the Good Deed

In a heartwarming story unfolding at a deli and grocery store in Staten Island, New York City, manager Wail Alselwi made a special deal with local high school student Zamier Davis. The agreement was that if Davis managed to elevate his grades from being an excellent student to making it onto the “Honor Roll,” Alselwi would treat all the store’s snacks. Davis successfully achieved the higher grades he aimed for, and Alselwi’s kind gesture garnered media attention and the acknowledgment of Staten Island officials.

Davis attends Edwin Markham Intermediate School and is a regular customer at Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery in Richmond Harbor. He would often show his report card to store manager Alselwi. Despite already being classified as a “Merit Roll” student at his school, Davis set his sights on reaching the more prestigious “Honor Roll.”

To motivate his young friend in academics, store manager Alselwi made a promise: If Davis attained the certification for the “Honor Roll,” he would be rewarded with anything he desired from the store, free of charge. And indeed, Davis achieved his goal!

Overjoyed, Davis swiftly navigated the aisles of the grocery store, grabbing several bags of his favorite sweet and spicy corn chips, Doritos, and proceeded to the cashier’s counter. Following this, Alselwi didn’t cease his encouragement of students pursuing education, continuing to provide academic incentives for the local youth.

This heartwarming tale of the small town first aired on the television program “Good Morning America,” with cameras capturing the moment when Davis excitedly entered the store holding his “Honor Roll” certificate, and Alselwi cheering inside, exclaiming, “You did it! Go get whatever you want!”

Upon learning of this story, Staten Island officials, including District Chief Vito Fossella, personally visited the deli last Tuesday to present Alselwi and Davis with certificates of appreciation. Speaking at a press conference, Davis shared, “I wanted to get better, and after raising my average score to 80, I continued to push myself and ultimately made it onto the Honor Roll with an average of 90.”

Fossella expressed deep emotions upon hearing the story of the two individuals, stating, “We all want our kids to excel in school and in life. However, sometimes, just like everyone else, children are driven to do something because of various motivational factors. And everyone needs the right motivational factor to grow.”

Fossella also commended the store manager’s actions in encouraging middle school students to study hard, mentioning, “He (the manager) had no obligation or reason to help this young person, but he chose to do so, which is the beautiful aspect of this story.”