Fueled by the desire to have fun in our beautiful surroundings, coupled with his tenacity of getting things done, Dave & Roma McCoy made Mammoth Lakes a great place to live, work, and play.
While entrenched in having fun building new chair lifts, runs, and lodges across Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Dave always offered a helping hand to those who asked. He assisted with vital community buildings li
ke Mammoth's hospital, fire department, and water district. Dave’s underlying concept was simple—whatever is best for the community, let’s make it happen.
In 1989, Dave and some of his friends saw a need for higher education and the arts, and started the Mammoth Lakes Foundation. Dave embodied the tremendous power of synergy within a community and showed us that we can accomplish great things when we work together. Mammoth Lakes Foundation continues to embody that today. MLF believes that higher education and cultural enrichment enhances the quality of life of residents, second homeowners, and visitors by balancing the recreational attractions in our community. Higher education and the arts promote leadership, stimulate growth, and build a stronger year-round economy. Since its founding, Mammoth Lakes Foundation successfully established a community college in Mammoth Lakes, has awarded 750+ scholarships to local students, and built student housing. Because of the generosity of our donors and supporters, the Mammoth Lakes Foundation is able to continue the "Dave's Scholars" program providing full-tuition scholarships, book stipends, and support and mentoring through the Foundation to local students. The Mammoth Lakes Foundation also awarded our first Transfer Scholarship in May 2021 to a graduating scholarship student who is continuing her education at a 4-year university. The award provides up to $10,000 tuition per year for a maximum of two years to the Transfer Scholarship recipient, along with continued mentoring and guidance from the Mammoth Lakes Foundation staff and board. On July 6, 2022, the Town of Mammoth Lakes Town Council unanimously approved an agreement with the Mammoth Lakes Foundation for the lease of Edison Hall and operation of the Edison Theatre. The Town will reopen and operate the theatre beginning this summer. For information on using the Edison Theatre, please contact the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department at 760-965-3690. Partnering with Cerro Coso Community College, the Town of Mammoth Lakes, and private donors, MLF is working to create a permanent arts facility in the Eastern Sierra. Visit our website to learn more about all the wonderful ways MLF contributes to our community. We are continuing Dave McCoy's legacy in making Mammoth a great place to live, work, and play.
