Hank Baskett Jr. 'all about the kids'

link Staff photo: Aubry Buzek

Hank Baskett Jr. announced he will be retiring in August after running the Oasis Children’s Advocacy Center for more than 21 years.

But his son said he won’t be far from the organization that has been his passion for so long.

“He’s not going to give up on the kids,” said Hank Baskett III, Clovis native and former NFL wide receiver. “And as long as the Oasis is there my Dad is going to be there offering his support in one way or another — it’s all about the kids.”

The Oasis is the only safehouse in five counties that conducts forensic interviews for child abuse cases and child witnessed violent crimes, but funding for the organization is dwindling.

The younger Baskett said he tries to do as much as he can to raise awareness for child abuse and the important role Oasis plays in the community.

This weekend he took a family road trip into town to raise money for the organization at the 9th Annual Hank Baskett III Tee’d Off About Child Abuse Golf Benefit at the Cannon Air Force Base Whispering Winds Golf Course.

The golf tournament attracted more than 21 teams of four from at least five different states to raise money for the continued operation of the center.

“If something ever happened to the Oasis — who is going to be here for the kids?” asked the younger Baskett. “The people whose lives he has changed have come up and talked to me and said that because of my dad and the Oasis, they’ve had a chance to really have a life.”

Hank Jr. said the organization receives state funding based on the number of interviews it conducts each month, which means during months of low activity the center must rely on other funds to stay afloat.

The elder Baskett said it’s a “blessing” to have the support of community members and visitors at the tournament.

“The golf tournament money impacts (Oasis) greatly,” he said. “Funding from the golf tournament can be used to fill in those cracks for stuff that our grants and other stuff don’t cover.”

“Child abuse is up and down, and we only see the tip of the iceberg that’s really actually happening,” he said. “Because people don’t report it or children are afraid — whatever reason there is. But you need a facility like that where a child is comfortable, that they can come to and they can regurgitate. They can get the garbage out of their system — because it don’t belong to them.”

The younger Baskett said the impact the tournament makes on the Oasis is “amazing,” but when it comes to donating money and time year round every little bit helps.

“My Dad taught me a very good saying — I would rather a million people give one dollar than one person give a million dollars, because it’s all about creating awareness,” he said. “A dollar a month is just twelve dollars a year for anyone that would be willing to do it — and that adds up. And helping these kids — that adds up. Because the Oasis is not the biggest building in the world, but they do enough in there to change lives, and that’s all that matters.”

In addition to enjoying some friendly golf competition between his father and his wife, Kendra Wilkinson, he said he also looks forward to coming home to take advantage of the opportunity to relax with family and friends.

“It’s always great coming back to Clovis,” the younger Baskett said. “I am New Mexico until I die.”

“I’ve still got my 505 number, and that’s not going to change,” he said. “I’m very proud of where I came from and I love representing this state the best I can and just showing support for the teams that are back here.”

link Staff photo: Aubry Buzek

Clovis native and former NFL wide receiver Hank Baskett III and his family road-tripped into town for the Ninth Annual Hank Baskett III Tee’d Off About Child Abuse Golf Benefit at the Cannon Air Froce Base Whispering Winds Golf Course Saturday. The tournament raised money for the Oasis Children’s Advocacy Center, a child abuse safehouse run by his father, Hank Baskett Jr.

Hank Jr. said they would have a final tally on all the money raised at the tournament by next week.

The Oasis Children’s Advocacy Center accepts donations on their web site at http://www.oasis4children.org.