Local philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein paid visits to Woodridge and Gladstone elementary schools in Cranston on Jan. 23, speaking to his Feinstein Jr. Scholars about the good deeds that they have been doing for others, and greeting the students with handshakes, hugs and “high fives.”

He brought with him a new Feinstein Jr. Scholar card for each student, which gives them free entry into many local attractions, as well as a newly created journal in which the children can record their good deeds and place photos of themselves. He reminded the students that they are part of a worldwide network.

“As a Feinstein Jr. Scholar, you are honor-bound to help out others whenever you can,” he told the students. “You are heroes and the children in Haiti and Honduras, they look up to you. Heroes have to live up to being heroes.”

Feinstein encouraged the students to continue wearing their Feinstein Jr. Scholar T-shirts and to keep up their good deeds for others.

“I’ll be back in the spring, but until then, if you see me, don’t say, ‘That’s Mr. Feinstein, he visited my school,’” he said. “You tell people, ‘That’s Alan Shawn Feinstein, he’s my friend and I’m a Feinstein Jr. Scholar.’”

Feinstein also gave each school a check for $5,000 as a reward for the children’s good deeds.

“You earned this money with all of the good deeds you do,” he told them. “Take care of yourselves, take care of your teachers and remember that I love you and your teachers love you. You are very special to me and you are a part of my family. Any time you see me, you can come up to me and give me a handshake, a high five or a hug,” he said.

He ended his visits with his usual “See you later, alligator,” to which the students replied, “After a while, crocodile.”