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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT VARIOUS PEACE PLANS AT PLAY TO END THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, A NEW SURVEY SHOWS A MAJORITY OF LATINOS DISAPPROVE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ECONOMIC AND IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

>>> AND PHOENIX CHILDREN'S TRANSFORMS AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION SITE INTO A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

NEGOTIATORS FROM UKRAINE, THE U.S.

AND EUROPE HAVE AGREED ON GUARANTEES FOR THE FUTURE SECURITY OF UKRAINE.

GUARANTEES ARE SIMILAR TO SECURITY ASSURANCES FOR NATO MEMBERS BUT THE ISSUE WHERE TO BUILD A BORDER IS STILL UNRESOLVED.

WE WELCOME IN DR.

EVELYN FARKAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF McCAIN INSTITUTE.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TED.

TED: THIS IS NEW NEWS.

THIS WAS HAPPENING TODAY, THIS IDEA OF SECURITY ASSURANCES, NATO-LIKE ASSURANCES FOR UKRAINE.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

TED, WE'VE HEARD WHAT TERRITORY UKRAINE MIGHT BE WILLING TO FORFEIT TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY, BUT THE STICKING POINT IS WHAT SECURITY GUARANTEE THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE, THE WORLD CAN GIVE UKRAINE AT THE END OF THIS WAR THAT RUSSIA WILL NOT INVADE AGAIN.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WAS NATO MEMBERSHIP, BUT APPARENTLY PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID HE'S WILLING TO FORFEIT, SO NOT TO SEEK NATO MEMBERSHIP, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOW IN THE UKRAINIAN CONSTITUTION.

HE SAID HE WILL FORFEIT THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR A U.S.

BILATERAL SECURITY GUARANTEE BUT THAT BILATERAL SECURITY GUARANTEE NEEDS TO BE ONE HE CAN REALLY BELIEVE IN, THAT HIS PEOPLE CAN BELIEVE IN, SO AS A FIRST STEP IT HAS TO BE RATIFIED BY OUR SENATE, IS MY BELIEF.

THAT HASN'T BEEN SPELLED OUT PUBLICLY, TED.

STILL NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.

TED: SOUNDS AS THOUGH YOU WON'T BE A MEMBER OF NATO BUT GET THE BENEFITS OF NATO MEMBERSHIP BY GUARANTEED SECURITY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE RUSSIA IS TOO EXCITED ABOUT THIS?

>> RIGHT, IF WE MEAN IT, WE, THE UNITED STATES, THE SECURITY GUARANTEE THAT WE GIVE JAPAN, THAT'S U.S.

TO JAPAN OR U.S.

TO SOUTH KOREA, THOSE SECURITY GUARANTEES ARE JUST LIKE NATO, AN ATTACK UPON ONE IS AN ATTACK UPON THE OTHER.

IF SOUTH KOREA OR JAPAN GETS ATTACKED, AUTOMATICALLY, ALMOST, THE UNITED STATES WILL GO TO MILITARY DEFENSE.

NOT PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FROM THE SIDELINES AS WE'VE DONE FOR UKRAINE AFTER THE VIOLATION OF THE BUDAPEST MEMORANDUM, THIS IS A POLITICAL DOCUMENT.

IT WOULD CARRY MORE WEIGHT BECAUSE IT WOULD MEAN THAT CONGRESS WOULD HAVE TO STAND BY IT AND PROVIDE MONEY TO ENFORCE IT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS, OF COURSE, THAT IT RAISES.

TED: YEAH, AND ALSO, ONE QUESTION IS: WOULD THE CURRENT PRESIDENT STAND BY THIS?

>> THAT IS THE BIGGEST QUESTION.

TED: YOU'VE GOT TO, HUH?

>> THAT IS THE BIGGEST QUESTION.

ANY OTHER PRESIDENT -- FIRST OF ALL, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PROBABLY THE ONLY PRESIDENT IN RECENT HISTORY WHO HAS SUCH CONTROL OVER THE SENATE THAT HE PROBABLY COULD GET TWO-THIRDS OF THE SENATORS TO SUPPORT SUCH A GUARANTEE, AND ALSO UKRAINE IS STILL AN ISSUE THAT UNITES SENATORS IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION, SO THEY WOULD WANT TO GIVE UKRAINE THE SECURITY GUARANTEE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT CONGRESS CAN'T ORDER OUR TROOPS TO GO OVER AND DEFEND UKRAINE IF RUSSIA ATTACKS AGAIN AND PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU KNOW, INCREASINGLY HAS A CREDIBILITY GUARANTEE, CREDIBILITY GAP, RATHER, WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE BELIEVING THAT HE WOULD REALLY PUT AMERICAN TROOPS ON THE LINE TO DEFEND UKRAINE IF THIS TREATY WAS RATIFIED BY CONGRESS.

TED: THIS IS ONE LEG OF THE PEACE STOOL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

THE OTHER COUPLE OF LEGS ARE -- ONE OF WHICH SEEMS TO ME, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, WAS THE BIGGIE INVOLVING CEDING LAND TO RUSSIA, THIS DONBAS REGION ESPECIALLY, IS THAT SOMETHING ZELENSKY AND THE UKRAINIANS WOULD GIVE UP FOR THESE ASSURANCES?

>> THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY I DON'T THINK THIS AGREEMENT IS GOING TO ACTUALLY COME TO FRUITION, EVEN IF RUSSIA SAYS WE'LL ACCEPT A CEASE-FIRE.

WHAT I HEARD COMING OUT OF MOSCOW HAS BEEN WE STILL WANT THE FIVE PROVINCES, THE FIVE PARTS OF UKRAINE, SOME OF WHICH THEY HAVE MILITARY TROOPS, ON THAT THEY CONTROL, BUT MUCH OF IT THEY DON'T CONTROL, AND THE UKRAINIANS HAVE BEEN EQUALLY CLEAR TO SAY, TED, THAT IF THE RUSSIANS DON'T HAVE THEIR TROOPS ON OUR TERRITORY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TURN IT OVER BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO TURNING OVER PEOPLE, AND THEY WON'T DO THAT.

TED: IT ALSO REWARDS AGGRESSION, DOES IT NOT?

>> YES, THAT'S THE OTHER PROBLEM.

SO EVEN IF WE GIVE A SECURITY GUARANTEE TO UKRAINE, IF WE COME TO AGREEMENT ON THE ISSUES WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, RUSSIA CAN'T WALK AWAY WITH IMPUNITY.

OTHER WOULD-BE AGGRESSORS AND PEOPLE LIKE PRESIDENT XI IN CHINA WHO HAS DESIGNS ON TAIWAN, THEY WOULD BE TEMPTED TO USE THE SAME BRUTAL -- FIRST OF ALL, TO VIOLATE SOVEREIGNTY OF NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, BUT ALSO TO USE THE BRUTAL MEANS THAT RUSSIA USED, THE TORTURE, RAPE, KIDNAPPING OF CHILDREN, BOMBING CIVILIANS, BOMBING HOSPITALS.

ALL OF THOSE TACTICS GO UNPUNISHED AND WE KNOW THEY ARE UNPUNISHED FROM CHECHNYA AND SYRIA AND THE SYRIANS ARE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS FROM UKRAINE.

AND MANY WOULD-BE BRUTAL DICTATORS ARE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT RUSSIA CAN GET AWAY WITH.

TED: WHAT IS THE STEP HERE?

OBVIOUSLY TODAY'S NEWS IS ASSURANCES, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO WITH ALL THIS.

WHAT DO WE WATCH FOR?

>> WATCH FOR WHAT THE RUSSIAN REACTION IS, TED.

I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF THE RUSSIANS AGREED TO ANY OF THIS.

RIGHT NOW VLADIMIR PUTIN IS NOT PREPARED TO BRING THE WAR TO AN END.

HE HAS MAXIMALIST OBJECTIVES.

IF HE SAYS HE'S WILLING TO STOP THE FIGHTING, I WOULDN'T BELIEVE HE'S GOING TO STOP IT FOREVER, I WOULD BELIEVE HE WANTS A CEASE-FIRE, WANTS TO GAIN TIME.

THE BIGGEST THING TO WATCH FOR IS WHAT RUSSIA'S RESPONSE IS AND WHETHER THEY ARE ABLE TO COMPROMISE AT ALL AND GIVE UP OBJECTIVES, WHICH IS CONTROL OVER UKRAINE.

TED: ANOTHER THING TO WATCH FOR IS WHAT COMES OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND WHAT DO PEOPLE ON CAPITOL HILL HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ALL THIS?

>> RIGHT.

THERE IS THE EUROPEAN SIDE OF THIS AS WELL.

THE EUROPEANS WILL TRY THEIR DARNDEST BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'RE NEXT IF PUTIN IS NOT STOPPED IN UKRAINE, RUSSIA WILL CONTINUE ITS ATTACKS THAT IT START AGAINST THE EUROPEANS.

>> BEFORE YOU GO, EVELYN, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING REGARDING THESE BOATS, ALLEGED DRUG BOATS THAT ARE ATTACKED BY U.S.

FORCES.

U.S.

SEIZES AN OIL TANKER OFF THE VENEZUELAN COAST.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> SO THIS IS THE ISSUE WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH VENEZUELA, TED.

OUR GOVERNMENT ISN'T TELLING US WHAT THEIR OBJECTIVE IS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE NAME.

U.S.

PEOPLE AND WITH OUR TAXPAYER MONEY.

I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

APPARENTLY THERE'S GOING TO BE A BRIEFING ON CAPITOL HILL.

THAT IS ALSO OVERDUE, BUT WE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVES ARE VIS-A-VIS VENEZUELA.

FORCING REGIME CHANGE IS NOT AN EASY THING AND WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL HERE AND NEED CONGRESS BEHIND THIS EFFORT IF THAT IS INDEED WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO BE APPRISED OF IT AS WELL.

TED: SURE SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

ISN'T ALL THIS GAINED AT TARGETING GETTING MADURO OUT OF OFFICE?

>> YES, BUT IT HASN'T WORKED SO FAR.

THAT IS THE ISSUE.

HOW FAR IS THIS ADMINISTRATION WILLING TO GO TO TRY TO FORCE HIM OUT OF OFFICE?

WILL THEY USE MILITARY FORCE?

IF SO, CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO KNOW.

TED: ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR ALL OF THIS, IT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT THERE.

IT MIGHT BE THERE, BUT IT'S NOT THERE IN FORM?

>> YEAH, I JUST DON'T -- THIS, TO ME IS NOT THE WAY YOU CONTEMPLATE.

WE ALREADY HAVE AMERICAN MILITARY ENGAGED IN THE UNLAWFUL ATTACKS ON THE BOATS AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE A CARRIER BATTLE GROUP OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, HOVERING OFF THE COAST OF VENEZUELA.

PEOPLE'S WIVES, HUSBANDS, CHILDREN ARE ALREADY, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, IN HARM'S WAY, LEGALLY OR PHYSICALLY.

I THINK THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO KNOW REALLY WHAT THE PLAN IS.

TED: ALL RIGHT, DR.

EVELYN FARKAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE McTAIN INSTITUTE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, TED, TAKE CARE.

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TED: A NEW REPORT FROM THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER FINDS THAT A MAJORITY OF LATINOS DISAPPROVE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION AND ECONOMIC POLICIES.

THIS, AFTER NEARLY HALF OF LATINO VOTERS SUPPORTED TRUMP IN LAST YEAR'S ELECTION.

EDWARD VARGAS FROM ASU'S SCHOOL OF TRANSBORDER STUDIES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THE "PEW RESEARCH SURVEY" WAS IN OCTOBER.

I IMAGINE THE NUMBERS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH.

IT WOULD SUGGEST THAT LATINOS ARE SAYING, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> I HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH THE PEW CENTER AND THEIR WORK IN GENERAL IS ONE OF THE TOP RESEARCH FIRMS STUDYING LATINOS AND OTHER POPULATIONS, SO THEY DO THE SAMPLE OF OVER 4,000 HISPANICS WITH OTHER SAMPLES OF REPUBLICAN TRUMP VOTERS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT HERE.

FROM THE REPORTS AND MAYBE ANOTHER STUDY THAT WAS DONE 100 DAYS AFTER HIS ELECTION, DONE THROUGH UNIDOS, THEIR POLL AROUND THE SAME TIME, AND ALL THE NUMBERS ARE SAYING THE SAME THING, THAT LATINOS ARE UPSET ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, FOR THE PEW STUDY, IT WAS FIVE OF SIX WERE UPSET, AND IT'S THIS INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION POLICY AND RISING COSTS IN INFLATION, WHICH IS REALLY BEING IMPACTING LATINOS.

TED: INDEED, 70% ACCORDING TO PEW RESEARCH CENTER, 70% DISAPPROVE OF THE PRESIDENT'S JOB.

75% SAY HIS POLICIES ARE MORE HARMFUL THAN HELPFUL.

IS THIS A SURPRISE TO YOU?

>> THE NUMBERS ARE AVERAGE, SO IT'S NOT JUST DEMOCRATS.

IT'S AVERAGING THAT OUT WITH TRUMP VOTERS, AND SOMETHING TO NOTE ABOUT REPUBLICANS AND LATINOS, LIKE EVERY REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, THERE ARE THE TRUMP REPUBLICANS AND THEN THERE ARE THE REPUBLICAN LATINOS, WHICH ARE IN SOME WAYS QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT IN MANY WAYS.

THERE IS THIS DECLINE IN SUPPORT THROUGHOUT HIS SECOND ADMINISTRATION.

TED: I ASK YOU AGAIN, ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THIS?

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED, ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HIGHER.

IF YOU SEGMENT THE DATA AND BREAK IT UP BY LATINO DEMOCRATS VERSUS LATINO REPUBLICANS, YOU WILL SEE A BIGGER DIVIDE.

YOU WILL SEE THE NUMBER TO BE HIGHER.

TED: 65% DISAPPROVE OF IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

71% SAY THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING TOO MUCH TO DEPORT IMMIGRANTS.

IS THAT A SURPRISE?

>> NOT A SURPRISE.

ABOUT 44% OF ALL LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE IMMIGRANTS.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT IMMIGRANTS SUPPORT BORDER SECURITY, THAT'S VERY CLEAR.

I THINK WHAT THEY DIDN'T EXPECT IS THAT THEY WOULD BE GOING AFTER PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS.

IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE SHOWING UP TO THE COURT DATE THROUGH ASYLUM CASE OR WHATEVER, CASES THEY CAME TO FILE AND THEY'RE PICKED UP AT THE COURTHOUSE.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT -- THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE GOING AFTER CRIMINALS, AND GOING AFTER CITIZENS, SO THIS IDEA OF DUAL PROCESS, I THINK LATINOS ARE SAYING YOU'RE PICKING UP CITIZENS AS WELL.

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE, AND THE UNDERLYING XENOPHOBIC EXPERIENCE THAT LATINOS ARE EXPERIENCING.

TED: 84'S OF LATINOS WENT FOR TRUMP IN THE ELECTION WHY.

DID SO MANY LATINOS SWING FOR TRUMP IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> WE PREDOMINANTLY SAW THIS AROUND LATINO MEN.

I HATE TO BLAME GUYS IN TERMS OF THE SWING, BUT I THINK THE CONVERSATION AROUND REDUCING INFLATION, DECREASING -- INCREASING WAGES, DECREASING THE COST THAT REALLY ATTRACTS LATINOS, AND THE ISSUE ON THE BALLOT IS THE ECONOMY, TYPICALLY REPUBLICANS DO WELL IN THOSE ELECTIONS.

>> AND SHOULD MENTION AS YOU REFER TO THIS, THIS IS NOT A MONOLITH BECAUSE 70% OF THOSE WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP DO SUPPORT HIS IMMIGRATION POLICY.

SO THERE IS THAT FACET OF FOLKS, LATINO FOLKS IN THIS CASE, WHO MAY NOT BE ALL THAT EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT STILL SUPPORT THE IDEA AND THE PREMISE?

>> THEY SUPPORT THE PREMISE OF SECURITY.

DANGERS AND FEARS OF CRIMINALS AND THE RHETORIC AROUND GANGS, THEY SUPPORT THAT, WHAT THEY DON'T SUPPORT IS THE DEPORTATION AND THE LACK OF DUE PROCESS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

TED: I'M SEEING 70% OF LATINOS IN THE SURVEY SAY THEY WERE SOFT AS A GROUP FROM A YEAR AGO.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME LATINO VOTERS HAVE SAID THIS?

>> WE THINK OF LATINOS BEING OPTIMISTIC, HAVING SOME OF THE CORE VALUES IN TERMS OF IF YOU WORK HARD, YOU CAN GET AHEAD IN LIFE.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY ROOTED IN SORT OF LATINO THINKING, PARTICULARLY AMONG IMMIGRANTS.

SEEING THIS TREND, IN TERMS OF PEOPLE SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION IS HARMFUL FOR ME.

MAYBE I NEED TO RECONSIDER THIS IDEA OF DUAL CITIZENSHIP.

MAYBE THINK ABOUT PROVIDING -- THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO MOVE -- FOR THE MOST PART, A LOT OF THE CONCERN IS I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

ABOUT 15% OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE LATINO.

HEAVILY IMMIGRANT DOMINATED.

DO I EXPAND MY BUSINESS?

TED: DOES ALL OF THIS CHANGE IF THE ECONOMY STARTS STRENGTHENING AGAIN?

>> I THINK SO.

BUT WE'RE SEEING INTERESTING TREND, TED.

ONE IS THE MAYOR OF MIAMI JUST HAD AN ELECTION, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME A DEMOCRAT HAS WON IN THREE DECADES.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LATINO MAYOR, AND TYPICALLY BEEN A REPUBLICAN LATINO MAYOR IN THAT POSITION.

WE ALSO SEE THIS IMPORTANT CASE COME OUT OF INDIANA WHERE THEY SHOT DOWN GERRYMANDERING.

SO VERY, VERY TARGETED BY TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION TO PASS GERRYMANDERING IN THE STATE OF INDIANA, AND THE REPUBLICANS IN INDIANA VOTED AGAINST IT.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING THESE TRENDS POPPING UP IN TERMS OF A BACKLASH TO TRUMP AND HIS POLICIES.

TED: EDWARD VARGAS, ALWAYS GOOD INFORMATION FROM YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

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TED: ARIZONA'S CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER EACH HOLIDAY SEASON FOR A SPECIAL PROGRAM CALLED BIG DIG FOR KIDS, WHICH TRANSFORMS ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION SITE INTO A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

FOR MORE ON THIS, WE'RE JOINED BY SARAH OWENS DISTRICT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT SUNDT CONSTRUCTION AND HALEY TURNER, CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AT PHOENIX CHILDREN'S.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

TED: SARAH, BIG DIG FOR KIDS, WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

>> SURE, WE PUT ON THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR KIDS AT PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

STARTED IN 2016.

DAVE CRAWFORD OUR FOUNDER, THE CEO OF SUNDT CONSTRUCTION HAD A VISION TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR KIDDOS BATTLING DISEASE, AND TAKE THEM AWAY FROM WORRIES, BRING SIBLINGS AND FAMILIES OUT AND FIND THE LOVE AND PASSION WE ALL DO FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND WE ACCOMPLISHED THAT IN YEAR ONE, AND FAST-FORWARD A DECADE LATER, HOSTING THAT EVENT FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER.

SUCH A MAGICAL DAY SPONSORING PHOENIX CHILDREN'S FAMILIES AND THE FAMILIES AND THEY GET ON OPERATE CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY, DIG SOME DIRT WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING AND THEY FEEL EMPOWERED WHICH IS FABULOUS AND CAN FORGET ABOUT ALL THE HARDSHIPS IN THEIR LIFE.

TED: HALEY, THIS IS AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION SITE THAT COMES ALIVE.

I KNOW HOW ESPECIALLY LITTLE GIRLS, BUT LITTLE BOYS LOVE THEIR DUMP TRUCKS, LOVE THEIR SHOVELS, THEY'RE DOING IT FOR REAL HERE?

>> THEY ARE, DEFINITELY ARE.

IT TRULY IS THE BEST DAY OF THE YEAR, IT GIVES A SENSE OF JOY, A SENSE OF NORMALCY AS THE KIDS AND FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.

IT IS JUST A SPECIAL DAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER, WRAPS THEIR ARMS AROUND THE KIDDOS AND PROVIDES A ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE.

TED: HOW DOES IT WORK?

IS IT INVITATION ONLY?

DOES THE STAFF LOOK AT KIDS AND SAY THIS KID IS READY FOR THIS, MAYBE THIS KID NOT THIS YEAR.

IS THAT IT?

>> ALL PATIENTS, CURRENT AND FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO THE EVENT.

WE HAVE 500 KIDDOS COME OUT FOR THE DAY AND ENJOY IT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

TED: AS FAR AS A CONSTRUCTION SITE, SARAH, ARE THERE CERTAIN SITES.

CAN YOU PICK ONE OUT?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> USEDTOR A STRONG CHALLENGE WHEN WE STARTED THE EVENT.

THE COMMUNITY IS GROWING AND SO MUCH IS HAPPENING.

WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT.

WE FOUND A HOME FOR A FEW YEARS, WE TRANSFORM IT INTO A CARNIVAL FOR KIDS, OVER 60 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT THE KIDS GET TO OPERATE, CLIMB ON, HONK THE HORNS AND OVER 35 KIDS TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES, FOOD, DRINKS, EVERYTHING ALL IN ONE DAY.

TED: THIS IS MASSIVE.

BIG MACHINERY.

THIS IS THE REAL STUFF?

>> IT IS THE REAL STUFF AND GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE FULL REIN IN A DIGGER AND EXCAVATOR, A WATER PUMP TRUCK AND ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AND, OF COURSE, A COMBINED ENVIRONMENT.

TED: YEAH, AND KIDS OBVIOUSLY ARE -- THE FAMILIES MUST BE LOVING THIS, TOO.

>> THEY REALLY DO.

IT PROVIDES, PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HAS ARIZONA'S LARGEST PEDIATRIC CANCER PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE, AND THE FUNDS ARE SO CRUCIAL TO HELP FAMILIES AND PROVIDING CARE AND TREATMENT AND JUST THE VITAL RESOURCE THEY NEED TO SUPPORT THEM.

TED: AND FOR THOSE IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS OUT THERE HELPING THESE KIDS.

THAT'S GOT TO BE A REWARDING FEELING AS WELL?

>> VERY SPECIAL.

WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY COME OUT TO THIS EVENT, PUT ASIDE OUR COMPETITION, OUR EGOS AND RALLY AROUND THE KIDDOS.

WE HAVE EQUIPMENT OPERATORS TRAVEL FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE AND INSIDE OF THE STATE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THIS DAY.

IMAGINE 2- OR 3-YEAR-OLDS HAND IN HAND LEARNING HOW TO DIG WITH AN EXCAVATOR.

THE GIRLS, EVEN BETTER.

THEY ALL OPERATE VIDEO GAMES, THEY CAN OPERATE THEM WELL.

TED: USED TO BE HAND SHOVEL, NOT ANYMORE.

YOU MENTIONED THE KID ZONE.

GIVE US A BETTER INDICATION WHAT THAT IS?

>> IMAGINE WALKING IN -- WE HAVE 35, 40 TENTS.

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY.

THIS ISN'T JUST A CARNIVAL WHERE YOU GET FREE THINGS.

THE KIDS GET FACE PAINTED, OR OPERATE A SMALL CRANE, DRIVE LITTLE CARS AROUND AND ON TOP OF THAT THE EQUIPMENT.

TED: THEY GET ON WEAR THE HARD HATS AND GET TO WEAR THE YELLOW VESTS.

>> THAT'S THE BEST PART OF THE DAY.

TED: IF I WERE A KID, THAT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL.

>> THE KIDDOS, THE PARENTS LOOK FORWARD TO THE SWAG THEY GET THAT DAY, AND JUST FEEL LIKE A TRUE CONSTRUCTION WORKER FOR THE DAY, WHICH IS SUPER SPECIAL.

TED: HOW MUCH MONEY IS RAISED?

>> SINCE PARTNERING WITH BIG DIG FOR KIDS, WE RAISED OVER $4 MILLION FOR OUR CENTER FOR CANCER AND BLOOD DISORDERS IN PHOENIX CHILDREN'S.

TED: HOW IS IT RAISED?

ARE THERE DONATIONS?

>> SPONSORSHIPS, FUND-RAISING, AND THE CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO RAISE THE FUNDS.

>> SO THIS HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER.

SO THIS BIG DIG FOR KIDS IS OVER, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER BIG DIG FOR KIDS COMING UP NEXT YEAR.

HOW EARLY IN THE YEAR DO YOU PLAN AHEAD FOR THIS?

>> IT'S YEARAROUND PLANNING.

WE GET ON CELEBRATE IN JANUARY AS A BOARD, AND BACK INTO PLANNING ARE IN EVENT.

IT'S EXCITING, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT COMES TOGETHER.

ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT IS DONATED IN KIND, SO IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THE CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY RALLY.

TED: LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO.

THE KIDS AFTER THE EVENT, SEE A LITTLE SPRING IN THEIR STEP A LITTLE BIT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, THEY ARE DEFINITELY ON CLOUD 9 AFTER BEING AT BIG DIG FOR KIDS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN IS NEXT YEAR'S EVENT COMING AND LOOK FORWARD TO IT ALL YEAR LONG WHEN IT COMES AROUND IN NOVEMBER.

TED: HALEY TURNER AND SARAH OWEN, THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.