Inspiring Young Minds: Miles Murdocca and Going the Extra Miles Foundation

As entrepreneurs themselves, David Steele and Paul Boyer, the founders of Intrada Technologies, understand the extraordinary spirit of entrepreneurs. It takes a unique passion and a persistent dedication to pave the way for creativity, vision, and leadership. Then, David met Miles.

 

Miles Meets Intrada

David first met Miles several years ago at a chance encounter during a Lego event in Harrisburg, which was a family outing with his wife and son. Miles was there with his brother, father, and mother, Barb, who is the COO for Landmark Commercial Realty, one of Intrada’s clients—in meetings with Intrada, David and Barb often shared stories about their sons. In that brief encounter, David was struck by something extraordinary in Miles. There was an undeniable spark in him—an aura of curiosity and determination to build bigger than the Lego staff would allow- leaving a lasting impression on David.

 

First Steps in Entrepreneurship

Miles’ journey into entrepreneurship began at the age of 11 with a heartfelt vision inspired by a personal loss. Upon the passing of his beloved dog, Kolsch, Miles envisioned a nonprofit called Kolsch’s Kanine’s, dedicated to aiding shelter dogs. This initial dream evolved over time into the Going the Extra Miles Foundation, a 501 c3, focusing on empowering young people to become agents of positive change within their communities. This mission holds particular importance for Miles, as he recognizes the challenges faced by his generation, including the possibility of being less well-off than their parents.

Because of his interest in civics, when Intrada was given the opportunity to be the audio/video partner for the PA Chamber’s Civics Bee in 2023, David immediately thought of Miles. He asked Barb if he would be interested in helping out that day. Miles responded quickly with a, “Yes!” This interaction fueled his curiosity and drove him to learn even more, evidenced by his proactive approach and energetic participation.

Miles continues looking for innovative methods to engage his peers, using platforms like social media to make participation fun and fulfilling. His future plans are ambitious, aiming for statewide competitions to grow the nonprofit's reach and make further impact. Through his journey, Miles exemplifies the power of youthful enthusiasm coupled with strategic mentorship and community involvement.

Despite facing the challenges of balancing his new high school responsibilities with managing a nonprofit, Miles has successfully made significant progress, thanks in large part to the guidance and assistance of his mother, Barb Murdocca, and her colleague, Mary Dimm. Together, they handle essential tasks ranging from print materials and website management to the legalities of opening a bank account. One of Miles's proudest accomplishments was launching the Foundation's website, marking a significant step in its development.

 

About Going the Extra Miles

His nonprofit's mission is to mobilize children into a force for good in their communities so they can build a better tomorrow.

Miles adds, “This is important to me because this upcoming generation may be the first in American history to be worse off than their parents. I find that we cannot let this trend advance; we must reverse it so we can keep getting better.”

Currently, he uses a strategy called the fun theory to get kids his age to participate in his organization. Miles says, “The Fun Theory makes mundane tasks seem more fun, and if something seems fun, kids are more likely to participate." He also plans to engage his generation by using social media to create fun videos to keep the word out.

Going the Extra Miles is a youth-driven initiative that empowers children to become active change-makers in their communities. By providing opportunities for civic engagement, they aim to cultivate the next generation of leaders committed to making a difference. For more information about Going the Extra Miles and how to get involved, visit www.GoingtheExtraMiles.org.

 

Intrada Congratulates Miles on Making A Difference

Intrada Technologies extends our warmest congratulations to Miles on the launch of his new nonprofit organization and for being honored for his perseverance at the National Civics Bee competition and his remarkable drive and commitment to civic engagement at the 2024 Pennsylvania Chamber Annual Dinner. This recognition is a testament to his dedication to driving positive change and inspiring those around him. As he embarks on this significant journey of creating an impact within the community, we are confident that Miles will achieve great success. We wish him the very best and are proud to support his efforts to make a difference.