Mammoth’s story Dazzles L.A. students
Dave McCoy (cutout) a hit among attendees of Ski Dazzle.
The Mammoth Lakes Foundation (MLF) usually sets up a booth at Ski Dazzle in Los Angeles to recruit students to attend Cerro Coso – Mammoth campus, but this year, the Foundation wanted to add some fun and take Dave McCoy with them—in the form of a life-size cardboard cutout.
The Dave McCoy cutout (as one part of the “Mammoth Pavilion,” a section dedicated to Mammoth businesses and organizations) rounded out a compelling story to show-goers of what Mammoth offers.
MLF hosted a booth side-by-side with Mammoth Lakes Tourism, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and The Westin Monache Resort.
From left, Jeff Guillory, Shosh Cohen, Bethany McIntire, Jimmy Huh, Dave McCoy (cutout), Megan Wolniewicz, and Edina Ingram during Ski Dazzle in the Los Angeles Convention Center on Dec. 5. Photo courtesy: Dion Agee.
“Mammoth is obviously a favorite destination for the southern California skier, so it’s not a hard sell to folks who are already Mammoth fans; it’s about making them feel welcome,” said Dion Agee, MLF Executive Director. “Adding Dave to the story portrays Mammoth as a community, not just another resort.”
Ski Dazzle attendees, young and old, learned Dave McCoy not only founded the massive ski resort, but also created a nonprofit 25 years ago to bring a college to Mammoth, something that the community truly needed.
Today, every high school graduate and any resident of Mono County can recieve a scholarship to earn a AA degree for free, thanks to Dave and MLF donors.
Mammoth was the only resort at Ski Dazzle that included a foundation as part of its isle; a partnership MLF has fostered with the owners of Ski Dazzle.
And what’s a trip to L.A. without some sightseeing? The Dave cutout made the rounds with a pre-show photo shoot at the Santa Monica Pier and 3rd Street Promenade.
“Everywhere we took the cutout, we found someone who knew who Dave was,” said Agee. “And then there were people who didn’t know Dave but wanted to take a photo anyway.”
Long time Mammoth visitors know who Dave is, and once they have children approaching their college years, they are eager to learn about Mammoth Lakes as an option for higher education.
One mother, a long time visitor to Mammoth, “literally hugged Jill Keefer [MLF’s Recruiter], thanking her for being there and letting her know that Mammoth is a place her daughter can begin college,” Agee said.
“Mammoth is where she would have gone to college, if it was available 30 years ago. Now, she gets to send her daughter to where she would have chosen to go.”
The Mammoth Lakes Foundation is dedicated to supporting higher education and cultural enrichment in the Eastern Sierra. Recent successes include supporting Cerro Coso Community College, creating and managing a state-of-the-art student apartment facility, providing over 600 scholarships to date for local students, and creating and expanding offerings at the Edison Theatre. For more information, call (760) 934-3781.
