Iowa: The owner of a pizza shop, Derrick Walton was once homeless after making a series of ‘poor choices’ as a teenager, and slept in abandoned cars and houses. While trying to lift himself out of poverty, he pledged to help others if he ever had the means to do so.

PAYING IT FORWARD: Derrick Walton’s selfless actions were recognised by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who gifted him a $10,000 cheque on her show