(upbeat music) - We're now joined by Christian Kane, co-founder of the RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams, RWJBarnabas Health and Underwriter of Public Broadcasting, and of our programming.

Hey, Christian, good to see you.

- Hey, Steve.

Thanks for having me back again.

It's been a while.

- Last time was five years ago.

This Field of Dreams had not been built at the time.

We're gonna show pictures as you're talking.

What the heck is it and why is it so incredibly significant for so many?

- So the RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams is the country's only special needs complex.

It is a safe haven for those living with a special need regardless of their age and ability.

And it allows for, you know, inclusive engagement.

It allows for participation in, you know, activities and events that, you know, Steve, you and I, and you know, people who are typical, you know, just take for granted.

- And your son, Gavin, who is 13 right now?

- Yeah, getting old.

- Yeah, tell us about Gavin and Gavin's connection to this Field of Dreams becoming a reality.

- Yeah, you know, obviously the story, you know, we were in a car accident and, Gavin at 19 months old, suffered a traumatic brain injury.

It took away his ability to walk and talk, but it did not take away his ability to wanna participate and engage in, you know, typical events and be a part of the community.

And, you know, as we were, you know, trying to get him to be a part of the community, there just weren't things to do.

And therefore, that's why Mary, my wife, and I, you know, decided in 2017 to start the idea of the conception of it.

And then in 2022, you know, to open it up to the public.

And you know what an amazing thing.

You know, as he's getting older, and listen, he's in sixth grade now.

He's in a typical elementary class.

He participates, he uses a voice to speak.

He's there, Steve.

And there's so many other individuals who are, you know, who live with a special need who just wanna be with others that are typical.

- The money came directly from a certain source.

Yes, they are an underwriter of our work on public television, but it's named the RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams for a reason.

Please.

- So, you know, you're building this thing and you know, we had a raise, you know, a significant amount of money and you wanted a leader in the community that was going to be able to support you, you know, not just to have it built.

The idea was now to continue this thing and run programming and events and leagues.

And that's when we were able to meet with, you know, RWJBarnabas Health.

And, you know, without Steve, without hesitancy, they were like, you know, not only do what do you need financially, you know, to make sure that this thing's built, but what are we doing to sustain it for, you know, for years to come?

And I just can't say enough about them.

- Well, you know, I also wanna say this, it's interesting, Christian, he doesn't hold back.

Can I tell- You know where I'm going, right?

- Sure.

- Yeah.

So let's just say it was down at the Jersey Shore in front of a very popular place and we were enjoying ourselves separately.

And you came up to me and said, "Hey, I have to come back on your show."

And I'm like, "Who's this guy?"

And you reminded me of the Field of Dreams.

And I said, "Wait a minute.

They actually did that?

That's awesome."

Your passion for what you are doing with your wife, with your family, with support of the folks at RWJBarnabas Health that you talked about.

What has that done for you in terms of not just personal satisfaction and the difference you're making with so many others, but in terms of your confidence to just go out there and pitch?

Literally pitch the idea, get it done.

- Right.

- Get exposure.

- You know, Steve, listen, I'm pretty sure if this thing happened to you, you would've done the same thing.

So I don't wanna make it into a, oh my gosh, this is crazy.

But to see your son, you know, who is 19 months old, to be able to run and jump and do all these things and, you know, really be almost like a mirror image of you just at a younger age, to have that taken away just wasn't right.

And then to see him wanna participate and he couldn't, not that he didn't wanna do, he just couldn't.

And then to see all these other people who are living, you know, different degrees of special needs, but they couldn't, Steve, it just wasn't right.

It just wasn't fair.

And you know, with being a teacher for 27 years, you know, didn't like any kid bullying another kid or another kid pestering another kid, or if a kid couldn't get, you know, how to solve for X, all right, let's figure a way.

Let's persevere, let's go through it.

And that's what I do.

That's what I'll do for Gavin.

That's what I do for this community, because they need a voice.

And if that has to be me, I'm fine with taking on that obligation.

- Let me also say that Christian's also, again representing his team, the winner of the Russ Berrie Award For Making a Difference.

Describe for folks what goes on on the Field of Dreams, what kind of activities.

- Tons of activities.

You know, you're talking about over 170 days worth of programming, events, leagues, football, cheerleading, baseball, soccer, you know, once again, artistic nights, summer are concert series, car series.

What we do is we bring to the complex everything that you would see in a local community rec center.

That's what we do.

And we just make it accessible, adaptable, and inclusive.

And as the years have gone on since 2022, when we first opened up, I'll be honest, in the beginning, it was kind of rough.

Not too many people were coming.

This year, our third year we sell out of everything within a day or two.

- Why do you think that is?

- Real simple, 'cause they're getting used to going out.

See, you have to understand, if you live with a special need, you're used to being put in the corner.

You're used to saying, "Oh, you know what, you can't do this, you can't do that."

And these families, be it the caretaker as well as the special need person, they're not used to going out and saying, "Wait a minute, this place is just for us?

This is for us to go do things?"

And now they're getting more and more comfortable of going and doing these events simply because this is their place, this is their safe place.

This is where they can be able to be able to enjoy to do things, but also interact.

And everyone kind of knows what's going on.

And that's basically, you know, why it's taken off.

That's why we have over 2,500 registered families who are members.

That's why we have this year, we'll have over 10,000 people walking through that main gate to be inside the Field of Dreams.

- Christian Kane is a co-founder of the RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams.

Check it out.

Their website has been up throughout the segment.

You wanna find out more.

Christian, I cannot thank you enough and thank you for coming up to me down at The Crab's Claw and Lavallette in beautiful, down at the Jersey Shore and saying, "Hey, I'm supposed to come back on your show to give you an update", because that's a great update.

It's a great story, and you're having a powerful impact on a lot of people.

Thank you, Christian.

- Steve, you know, listen, thank you so much.

Appreciate it.

I'll catch you during the summer.

- Yes, we're doing the easy part.

You're doing the hard part.

I'm Steve Adubato, that's Christian Kane.

Thanks for watching, we'll see you next time.

- [Narrator] One-On-One with Steve Adubato is a production of the Caucus Educational Corporation.

Celebrating 30 years in public broadcasting.

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And by The New Jersey Education Association.

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