Bishop Richard Hanifen receives 2005 Champion of Community Health award

Bishop Richard Hanifen, founding Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs, was honored as the 2005 Champion of Community Health by Peak Vista Community Health Centers. The award is given annually to a person or organization who: 1) exhibits outstanding advocacy efforts for issues that directly impact our community’s health, or 2) contributes financially to a measurable community health-related initiative, or solicits significant funding for same.

Bishop Hanifen was recognized for his contribution to Peak Vista’s philosophy that all patients deserve to be treated with dignity, regardless of their ability to pay. “Just because an individual has no health insurance, doesn’t mean that he or she should be treated with any less respect or with less quality of care,” according to Bishop Hanifen. As a result, healthcare with dignity is part of Peak Vista’s vision today and a significant component of wellness.

Entering seminary in 1953 and ordained a Catholic priest in 1959, Bishop Hanifen began his career in Estes Park. His admiration for other cultures and languages, so important to the patients served by Peak Vista, came from his stay in Europe, between 1966 - 1968, where he spent time in various countries following his study of Canon Law in Rome.

Hanifen served the Archbishop of Denver upon his return to the United States in 1968 and in 1974 was ordained an auxiliary bishop to that position. In 1974, he was placed in charge of El Paso and Teller counties, being named the founding bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs in 1984.

Bishop Hanifen has a fondness for both children and seniors, two major focus areas for Peak Vista. Highlights of his career include serving as a high school teacher and counselor (Bishop Hanifen earned his MA in guidance and counseling from Catholic University, Washington, DC), involvement in World Youth Day celebrations, and several personal visits with Pope John Paul II and current Pope Benedict XVI. Asking Pope Paul for permission to retire in 2002, he was not granted that permission until a year later.

Today, Bishop Hanifen provides spiritual direction to people, teaches at Regis University (his alma mater) and offers retreats to various groups around the country. He has served the National Conference of Catholic Bishop, El Pomar Awards for Excellence, Regis University Board of Trustees, Penrose Hospital and the Center for Christian/ Jewish Dialogue.

“Peak Vista is thrilled to bestow the inaugural Champion of Community Health award upon Bishop Hanifen,” states BJ Scott, Peak Vista’s President and CEO. “He is a dedicated friend of Peak Vista’s and one who continually advocates for healthcare with dignity on behalf of our patients. Bishop Hanifen is indeed a champion for uninsured working families in El Paso and Teller counties and we look forward to his involvement for many years.”

Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide exceptional healthcare for people facing access barriers. Established in 1971, Peak Vista annually offers primary medical care and dental services to over 44,000 residents of the Pikes Peak region. To learn more about Peak Vista, visit www.peakvista.org

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