Comment by zevon
As others have indicated: I think many people who show others "incredible kindness and inspiration" would value you doing the same for others more than anything you could probably do for them. However, simply telling them "you were incredibly kind to me and you are a big reason for me trying to be kind to others" might just make their day.
100% this. If I run into someone and they say "15 years ago you helped me out with X, and as a result these other great things happened" it will literally make my week.