Imagine being in such pain with your teeth that you can’t eat and even talking is difficult. That’s what happened to a young girl whose family had lost their Medicaid coverage.

Fortunately, the family could turn to Peak Vista Community Health Centers, which can draw on its Compassionate Care Fund for situations like that. No one is turned away because they don’t have insurance or the funds to pay for treatment.

“The little girl’s pain was out of control,” said Lisa James, Peak Vista’s senior director of philanthropy.

“We know that the sooner that children begin getting regular checkups with the dentist, the healthier their mouths will be throughout their lives. Too many times, people will delay seeing a dentist, thinking they can wait until their children’s permanent teeth come in,” James explained.

Dr. J.R. Franco, Peak Vista’s supervising dentist, examined the girl and referred her to a specialist clinic, where a dentist could use anesthesia while filling her many cavities and dealing with the infection ravaging her mouth.

“When a kiddo has oral pain, it affects their diet — who wants to eat a hard vegetable when your teeth ache? Oral pain can also cause behavioral problems. Pediatrics care can set a child up to have more confidence in the future and to have a healthier future,” James said.

That’s just one example of the many needs that Peak Vista’s network of 23 locations can help with. They range from Divide on the west to Flagler on the east, from Strasburg in the north to Fountain in the south.

In El Paso County, people can go to the Women’s Health Center on Union Boulevard, the Pediatric Health Center on International Circle, an Enrichment and Counseling Center on North Academy Boulevard or South Wahsatch Avenue, or any of the general health centers conveniently located around Colorado Springs.

“We believe in whole-person care, so our patients can receive medical, dental and behavioral health care, all under the same roof,” James said.

Wherever they go, they’ll meet some of Peak Vista’s more than 750 team members, working in clinical and administrative positions. The services they provide are not limited to the exam room.

Peak Vista also offers:

● The First Visitor Program, which provides free education and resources to families with children ages birth to 5 years old.

● Well-child waiting areas, where staffers watch over patients’ healthy children during appointments.

● Community health workers, who help patients and their families navigate the complex health care and social services systems and connect to local resources.

● Care Coordination team, which connects patients with local resources such as food banks and housing assistance.

That’s a far cry from the nonprofit’s beginning in 1971. A few volunteer doctors and nurses, with help from community activists, launched the Colorado Springs Free Clinic, serving walk-in patients just two nights per week.

By 1995, it had 130 employees who served more than 21,000 patients. Just five years later, it had grown to 284 employees and more than 35,000 patients. In 2020, Peak Vista’s 800 employees helped more than 93,000 patients.

The Empty Stocking Fund has played a crucial role in Peak Vista’s growth; this is the 30th time it has participated in the campaign. In mid-October, Peak Vista hosted its 20th Breakfast of Champions fundraiser, featuring Olympic swimming champion Janet Evans and honoring Bill Hybl with the Champion of Community Health Award.

The event is free, but attendees are encouraged to donate to continue the tradition of celebrating “individuals who overcome physical and mental challenges to achieve extraordinary feats that expand our understanding of human capacities.”

The next fundraising breakfast is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2025.