A crowd of nearly 500 people cheered enthusiastically as Brundage Mountain General Manager, Ken Rider, handed a check for $10,000 to the organizers of a community skate park during a concert on Friday, July 19.

It was the first major donation from the newly formed Brundage Community Fund, which was created to help support nonprofit organizations in their efforts to enhance the communities across Idaho’s West Central Mountains.

Skate Park Effort Embodies Community Spirit

The Mehen Memorial Skatepark is named in honor of Rory and Sara Mehen, who were shot and killed October 2022 at the inn they owned in New Meadows. Rory Mehen was a driving force behind the New Meadows Skate Park, establishing a nonprofit to raise funds for the project back in 2021.

“We formed the Brundage Mountain Community Fund late last year in order to be able to contribute more directly to the great work nonprofits are doing in our local communities,” says Rider. “When it came time to make our first significant donation, the Mehen Memorial Skate Park was a natural choice. Rory and Sara epitomized the community spirit. As longtime supporters of the Little Ski Hill and the New Meadows community in general, they never shied away from getting involved and dreaming big dreams. The Skate Park will be a lasting symbol of that passion and the great things we can all do for future generations when we work together.”

The Mehen Memorial Skate Park’s mission is to “create a space for youth and people of all ages to recreate responsibly, close to home, and increase the quality of life for New Meadows citizens.”

“A donation of this size goes a long way toward closing the gap on our fundraising goal of $600,000,” says Molly Johnson, Mehen Skate Park Board Member. “We’ve raised nearly 90% of the funds needed for the skate park, and this will allow us to break ground next spring. We cannot express enough gratitude to the community in helping us bring this project over the finish line, both for its benefit to the community and as a tribute to Rory and Sara.”

In addition to the cash donation, Brundage Mountain encouraged those attending the free concert to donate to the Brundage Mountain Community Fund. 50% of the donations received the night of the concert will be given to the Mehen Memorial Skate Park on top of the $10,000 award.

“Good Music – Good Deeds” Concerts to Continue

Brundage Mountain will continue to partner with a different non-profit each week of the summer concert series. Each group will get the opportunity to share their story and receive 50% of any donations made online or in person during the concerts.

The concerts will remain free to the public, but with a suggested donation each week for those who choose to support these community-wide causes.

Nonprofit Partners

Nonprofit partners have already been selected for the 2024 Summer Concert Series. Interested nonprofits based in Adams and Valley Counties can reach out to [email protected] to get on a waitlist for next summer’s concerts. Applications for the next grant awarded through the BCMF will be opened in early 2025, with the goal of issuing grant awards in late spring or early summer each year. Nonprofits focused on youth enrichment/education, outdoor recreation and sustainability will be given preference.