Brighten Your Day

'I Got $100,000 For You': Detroit Man’s Kindness Sparks A Life-Changing Chain Of Surprises

September 3, 2025

Curtis Dixon was already carrying a heavy burden when fate stepped in with an extraordinary twist. The Detroit man, facing a utility shutoff and on his way to pawn his wedding ring, crossed paths with someone who appeared to be in need of help.

What happened next changed his life forever.

Curtis Dixon / @mdmotivator

On his way to American Jewelry and Loan, Dixon noticed a man who seemed to be blind and struggling. The stranger asked if Dixon could help him stand. Dixon immediately offered his hand, saying, “God told me to help you.”

The man then asked if Dixon could spare a few dollars. Despite his own hardship, Dixon promised, “I’ll have a couple bucks when I come out here. I’m going to pawn my wedding ring man. My lights were shut off yesterday. Yeah I’ll give you a couple bucks.”

What Dixon didn’t realize was that the man wasn’t blind at all. He was Zach Dereniowski — better known as “MDMotivator” — a social media influencer who creates powerful moments of kindness for strangers.

“He tells me he’s not blind,” Dixon later recalled to FOX 2. “I’m like ‘woah.’ I’m testing him, how many fingers? He says two, after that, my life just changed.”

And change it did. Dereniowski’s first gift was to pay to have Dixon’s lights turned back on. But the surprises didn’t end there. Soon after, Dixon received $5,000 from Dereniowski, $2,500 from the gold shop, a brand-new car, and eventually an incredible $100,000 raised by people around the world who were moved by his generosity.

“We need more people like Curtis in this world,” Dereniowski said. “Everyone can do these small acts because the small acts are what matters. That’s where all this money came from. Everyone that had a small amount to give wanted to give to you because they felt your heart.”

Les Gold, of American Jewelry and Loan, was among those touched by the moment.

“You watch Zach and he gives away tens of thousands if not millions of dollars,” he said. “Life-changing to these people and it’s just so wonderful. When we walked outside, I was crying because it brought out such emotion and the love they get with each and every one of Zach’s giveaways it’s indescribable.”

For Dixon, the message is simple.

“I keep asking him why. Why did you help me? Because God told me to help you. First and foremost. I would do it for you, I would do it for anybody else,” he said.