well-deserving
/ˌwɛldɪˈzəːvɪŋ/adjective
Meriting good treatment; worthy of reward.
noun
Treated as plural. With the: people who are well-deserving as a class; the worthy, the meritorious.
Origin
Mid 16th century; earliest use found in George Joye (1490x95–1553), evangelical author. From well + deserving.