Dick Kun Honored
by Big Bear Lake
International Film Festival
The
2008 “Community Appreciation Award” has
been presented to Richard C. Kun. The annual award is given
to an
individual who has contributed greatly to the wellbeing of
the community. Kun is well-known for his premier ski resorts,
Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, driving forces for the winter
economy of the Big Bear Valley. Dick
moved to Big Bear in 1949 with his parents Tommi and Jo Tynall.
The Tynall’s operated ski schools
in various Valley locations prior to founding Snow Summit
in 1952. Graduating
from Big Bear High School, young Dick enjoyed skiing at the
resort, which led him to learn the day to day operations of
running a resort business.
After
college, in 1964, Kun joined the Snow Summit management,
assisting his mother following Tommi Tyndall’s
death in a tractor accident. He is currently president of
the corporation,
owner/operator of both Big Bear Valley resorts as well as one
in the Sierra Mountains, northeast of Fresno, California.
Much
of Kun’s philanthropic endeavors have been through
Snow Summit’s support of the community. The resort annually
donates cash, ski tickets and passes, food and other services
to many worthy causes in the Valley. Among non-profits benefiting
from Kun’s contributions are Doves, Meals On Wheels,
Lutheran Social Services and the Discovery Center. The Chamber
of Commerce and school district, as well as the Metropolitan
Water District ($6000 towards staffing expenses to combat the
Quagga mussel contamination), have all profited from Kun’s
generosity. The resort also supports Valley special events,
including Old Miner’s Day Parade, Cowboy Gathering, 4th
of July Fireworks display, Miss Big Bear Contest, Xeriscape
Garden Tour, among others.
Mr.
Kun is equally munificent on a personal level. His activism
in local community affairs is unparalleled.
He served eight
years as a Chamber of Commerce Director, chairing several committee’s,
is an active Rotarian, is a founding Director of the Big Bear
Lake Resort Association, is on the Steve Mihaylo Educational
Foundation Board of Directors, and is Program Director for
the coaching of the Snow Summit Junior Race Team and their
master of ceremonies at the ski club’s annual dinner.
The
ski resorts have been the site for filming in the past years,
including scenes in “War Games” with
Matthew Broderick. Numerous print and broadcast commercials
feature
backgrounds for the resort. Requests for the use of the resorts
for filming are reviewed and approved only if they do not interfere
with the ski lifts and ski runs.
Congratulations, from all of
us at Big Bear Magazine.
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