Last winter, Laura Miller found herself pondering a complicated situation. It had been several months since she became Secret Agent L, an anonymous do-gooder who left beautifully wrapped little gifts for strangers at locations around the city.
And she had successfully recruited additional followers across the country and around the world, all of whom were eager to commit random acts of kindness under the umbrella of
Secret Agent L.
Pop City was ahead of the curve in chronicling Secret Agent L's work here in Pittsburgh, and additional media attention soon followed.
There was just one problem: Can you grow a good idea into something larger while remaining anonymous? The original reason for the secret identity was that Miller wasn't seeking any praise for her good works. But as she began talking with organizations that were interested in helping with her mission, Miller found that they were a bit uncomfortable with the secrecy.
So this summer Miller chose to take a big leap: She "came out" as Secret Agent L during a fundraising event on July 25 that brought in more than $1,500 for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Her fans and followers discovered that the anonymous agent was actually an administrative assistant from Duquesne University.
She was interviewed last week on
CNN about her passion for brightening the days of strangers. Thanks to that exposure, she has since been flooded with email from supporters and volunteers.
Writer: Melissa Rayworth
Source: Laura Miller/Karen Ferrick-Roman
Image courtesy of Secret Agent L/Laura Miller