♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THAT WATER CONSERVATION MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO SECURE THE REGION'S WATER FUTURE.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE GROUNDBREAKING OF ASU'S NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX.

>>> AND A LOCAL CHARITY WORKS TO BENEFIT SICK KIDS IN PHOENIX--AREA HOSPITALS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THAT WHILE WESTERN CITIES LIKE PHOENIX, LAS VEGAS AND DENVER MADE SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN REDUCING WATER USAGE, THE REGION'S DWINDLING WATER SUPPLY IS IN DANGER OF BEING OUTPACED BY CLIMATE-DRIVEN CHANGES.

JOINING US NOW IS DAVE WHITE DIRECTOR OF ASU'S CENTER FOR GLOBAL INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY.

THIS IS PHOENIX, LAS VEGAS AND DENVER BECAUSE THEY'RE THE BIG HUBS -- CHECK THAT.

GO FURTHER BACK HERE.

IS THIS ALL ABOUT COLORADO RIVER WATER OR ABOUT ALL WATER?

>> SO THE SPECIFIC STUDY THAT WE RELEASED RECENTLY WAS THE FOURTH IN A SERIES OF RESEARCH ARTICLES, AND TOGETHER THESE ARTICLES PAINT A PICTURE OF URBAN CLIMATE ADAPTATION.

INNOVATIONS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN CITIES THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON COLORADO RIVER WATER, AND ESPECIALLY THE INNOVATIONS THEY'VE MADE AND THE ADVANCE THEY MADE IN CONSERVATION.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE SERIES OF STUDIES IS WHILE CONSERVATION IS SUFFICIENT OR NECESSARY, IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE.

TED: HOW IS WATER CONSERVATION DEFINED IN THE STUDY?

>> WELL, IN THIS STUDY, WE LOOKED AT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES THAT MAY INCLUDE PROGRAMS LIKE REDUCING WATER USE AT HOME THROUGH WATER EFFICIENT FIXTURES, LIKE WATER EFFICIENT WASHING MACHINES OR DISHWASHERS.

CHANGES IN OUTDOOR RESIDENTIAL WATER USE LIKE REPLACING TURF GRASS AND LARGER WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED BY AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION DISTRICTS OR CITIES.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FULL RANGE OF CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES AND STUDYING HOW RESIDENTS, ATTITUDES TOWARDS CONSERVATION MAY CHANGE OVER TIME AND HOW IF WE INCREASE THEIR PARTICIPATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES, WE CAN INCREASE THE OVERALL IMPACT.

TED: INCREASE THE OVERALL IMPACT, BUT STILL NOT ENOUGH?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> EXACTLY.

ONE THING WE WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, MY CO-AUTHOR, A PROFESSOR AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY AND I, WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS IN WATER CONSERVATION, BUT THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THESE GAINS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN MAKING OUR LIVES MORE EFFICIENT, THESE GAINS ARE BEING OUTMATCHED BY CHANGES THAT ARE BEING INDUCED BY CLIMATE AND LONG-TERM DROUGHT.

TED: AND AGAIN, NOT ENOUGH TO SECURE THE REGION'S WATER FUTURE.

HOW IS THE REGION'S WATER FUTURE FOR THE STUDY DEFINEED?

>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY IN THE COLLECTION OF STUDIES AND THE BROADER PACKAGE OF WORK THAT WE CONDUCTED AT THE UNIVERSITY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT WATER ACROSS MUNICIPAL, INDUSTRIAL, AGRICULTURAL, ENVIRONMENTAL USES THAT SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES AND HELP SOCIETY TO THRIVE IN THIS REGION.

SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WATER SECURITY, WE MEAN WATER SECURITY ACROSS ALL DOMAINS TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING FROM NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS TO NEW SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATIONS TO THE FOOD AND FIBER THAT WE ALL NEED TO WATER COURSING THROUGH OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS.

TED: IS THAT PART OF THE POLICY SHIFT YOU'RE SAYING NEEDS TO HAPPEN?

>> ONE OF THE THING WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS HELPING POLICY TO INNOVATE FASTER, TO HELP OUR POLICY SYSTEM TO CHANGE AT THE SAME SPEED THAT WE'RE SEEING THE ENVIRONMENT CHANGE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT MOVING QUICKLY ENOUGH TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGING CONDITIONS THAT WE SEE.

>> OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT MAJOR POLICY.

IDEAS, PLANS, THOUGHTS THAT WE'VE HEARD BANDIED ABOUT, WASTE WATER REUSES, THIS IS GOING ON IN A LOT OF PLACES.

WASTE WATER REUSE.

HOW MUCH IS IT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

IS IT HELPING?

>> WELL, WHAT WE CALL ADVANCED WATER PURIFICATION IS A PROVEN TECHNOLOGY USED AROUND THE WORLD AND INCLUDING IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN CENTRAL ARIZONA, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING NEW ADVANCED WATER PURIFICATION LED BY THE CITY OF PHOENIX, WITH INVESTMENT FROM NOT ONLY RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF PHOENIX BUT FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING IN, AND THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES, WE'RE GOING TO BRING ONLINE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, ENOUGH GENERATION, ENOUGH CAPACITY TO PRODUCE 15 TO 30 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER A DAY, BY RECYCLING AND REUSING WATER THAT CAN BE DELIVERED DIRECTLY BACK TO RESIDENTS OR MIXED IN AND BLENDED WITH OTHER WATER SUPPLIES?

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY PART OF POLICY AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION TO CREATE MORE EFFICIENCY AND MORE DURABLE DROUGHT RESISTANT SUPPLY.

TED: WHAT ABOUT DESALINATION?

FIRST OF ALL, WHERE WOULD YOU GET THE WATER?

SECONDLY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE SALT ONCE YOU GOT IT OUT OF THE WATER, AND THIRD IT'S SO EXPENSIVE?

>> YOU HIT THREE OF THE CONCERNS WITH DESALINATION.

FIRST OF ALL, THE SUPPLY, IT COULD OCCUR ON THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA OR ON THE COAST OF MEXICO, THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS AND PROPOSALS TO GENERATE DESALINATED WATER IN MEXICO, FOR EXAMPLE, AND CREATE A TRADE WHERE BY ARIZONA TAKES PART OF MEXICO'S ALLOCATION OF COLORADO RIVER WATER IN EXCHANGE FOR ARIZONA OR A COLLECTION OF SOUTHWESTERN STATES FUNDING THE DESALINATION FOR LOCAL USE.

SO IN THAT CASE, IT'S A VIRTUAL WATER TRADE.

TED: YEAH.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS, AT CURRENT MARKET RATES, DESALINATED WATER IS QUITE EXPENSIVE, ENERGY INTENSIVE AND DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO MOVE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE SUGGESTING IS THAT ALL OF THE OPTIONS NEED TO BE ON THE TABLE, AND DESALINATION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A SOLUTION THAT TAKES LOTS OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND LOG AND LEAD TIMES.

IF WE THINK WE NEED IT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, WE NEED START NOW.

TED: AGRICULTURE, PART OF A POLICY THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WANT TO APPLAUD THE FARMERS IN THIS STATE.

THEY'VE DONE REMARKABLE THINGS WITH INCREASING WATER EFFICIENCY TO GROW MORE FOOD AND FIBER WITH LESS WATER.

LEVELING FIELDS, DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, USING DRONE TECHNOLOGY FOR PRECISION-BASED AGRICULTURE, LOTS THAT GOING ON WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE TYPE OF CROP WE'RE GROWING AND THE AMOUNT OF WATER NEEDED FOR THE CROPS.

TED: ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE THERE BECAUSE OF DROUGHT OUTPACING CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET A SUPER EL NINO THIS WINTER, WHICH COULD MEAN MASSIVE RAINFALL AND COULD MEAN A REPLENISHING OF SUPPLIES.

WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THIS -- IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT DOES IT DO TO THIS EFFORT?

.

>> WHILE WE CERTAINLY WELCOME ADDITIONAL LOCAL SUPPLIES IN TERMS OF INCREASED PRECIPITATION.

WE HAVE TO REMIND OUR VIEWERS, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A 25 YEAR LONG MEGA DROUGHT THAT HAS BEEN ACCELERATED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES BY THE INTENSIFICATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO WELCOME ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION BUT WANT TO AVOID THE SO-CALLED PRAY FOR RAIN STRATEGY.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK, REAL BRIEFLY, BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, THE IDEA OF DROUGHT RELIEF IN THE SOUTHWEST, POSSIBLE BUT NOT LIKELY?

>> NOT LIKELY.

A FEW YEARS AGO I CHAIRED THE SOUTHWEST REGION FOR THE U.S.

NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT.

THE CLIMATE ASSESSMENT WHICH UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF-LINE BY THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION CLEARLY INDICATED WE SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE HIGHER TEMPERATURES, MORE VARIABLE AND LESS PRECIPITATION AND GREATER WATER SCARCITY AND RISKS IN THE FUTURE.

WE NEED TO BE CLEAR-EYED AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS ACROSS EVERY INNOVATIVE FIELD THAT WE CAN TO ENSURE A THRIVING ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN THE AREA.

TED: DAVE WHITE, ASU GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

.

TED: ASU'S HEALTH HEADQUARTERS BROKE GROUND ON APRIL 9 FOR AN A.I.

HUB AND VIRTUAL SKILLS LAB.

THE GOAL IS TO HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP ADVANCED MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES.

JOINING US IS ELIZABETH BAKER AND HEATHER CLARK, ASU'S SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ENGINEERING INTEGRATION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: HEALTH HEADQUARTERS?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> SO THE IDEA OF THE HEALTH HEADQUARTERS IS THAT WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL OF THE COLLEGES WITH TIME AND SPACE THERE WHO WILL BE HELPING TO EDUCATE STUDENTS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF ARIZONANS AND BEYOND.

TED: WHERE IS IT LOCATED?

>> LOCATED RIGHT DOWNTOWN NEAR THE REST OF THE ASU DOWNTOWN CAMPUS, AND WE JUST BROKE GROUND LAST WEEK.

BUILDING IS GOING UP.

TED: YEAH, HOW BIG A FACILITY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> ABOUT A FIVE-STORY FACILITY AND THE FIRST FLOOR, HEATHER CAN TALK MORE ABOUT.

INNOVATION HUB.

THE NEXT TWO FLOORS WILL HAVE STUDENT-CENTERED AREAS AND A VERY BIG SIMULATION LAB TO HELP OUR STUDENTS WITH SIMULATIONS IN THE TOP FLOOR WILL HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER STAFF OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.

TED: INDEED, HEATHER LOTS OF IT DEALS WITH TECHNOLOGY AND LOTS OF IT DEALS WITH ENGINEERING.

WHAT IS A PHYSICIAN ENGINEER?

>> YEAH, OUR STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE IN FOUR YEARS WITH AN M.D.

AND M.S.

IN MEDICAL ENGINEERING.

THE M.S.

IN MEDICAL ENGINEERING HAS TWO PHASES, THE CLASSROOM PHASE, AND THE ENGINEERING DEGREE WILL USE A.I.

AND HOW DATA IS GENERATED IN ORDER TO REINFORCE THE MEDICAL EDUCATION, AND THEN THE SECOND HALF, THIS IS WHERE THEY HAVE FUN, AND IT'S INNOVATION PHASE, AND THEY USE TEAM PROJECTS AND WORK WITH INDUSTRY TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE NEXT FRONTIER IS IN DIGITAL HEALTH CARE INTO SO LET'S SAY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT FRONTIER IN A CERTAIN TYPE OF CANCER.

WHAT?

THE STUDENTS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK WITH A.I.

AND GO FROM THERE AND SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH?

>> SO OUR TEAMS WILL BE GUIDED AND MENTORED WITH A CLINICAL MENTOR AND ENGINEERING MENTOR AND INDUSTRY MENTOR, AND WILL REALLY BE WORKING WITH INDUSTRY TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE REAL PROBLEMS, AND THEN OUR STUDENTS WILL BE USING THEIR CREATIVITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

TED: THAT'S FANTASTIC.

ELIZABETH, AS FAR AS THE PHYSICIAN ENGINEER THING, I'M TRYING TO FIND -- THIS IS A NEW CONCEPT, ISN'T IT?

>> A RELATIVELY NEW CONCEPT.

THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS IN WHICH ENGINEERING IS WOVEN IN, BUT NOT LIKE WE'RE DOING.

WE'LL BE THE ONE PLACE WHERE OUR ENTIRE STUDENT BODY IS GOING TO GET TWO DEGREES.

THE MEDICAL DEGREE AND THE MASTERS IN MEDICAL ENGINEERING.

TED: AND THERE ARE FIVE INNOVATION SUITES INVOLVED?

>> FIVE INNOVATION SUITES ON OUR FIRST FLOOR, THAT WILL BE AS HEATHER SAID, MATCHING INDUSTRY, HEALTH NEEDS AND THE STUDENTS TOGETHER IN TEAMS TO WORK ON NOVEL SOLUTIONS TO MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

TED: THESE INDIVIDUAL INNOVATION SUITES FOCUSED ON CERTAIN PARTICULAR THINGS?

>> YES, SO EACH SUITE IS CONNECTED TO AN A.I.

HUB, AND EACH SUITE REPRESENTS A PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY IN WHICH WE BRING IN A PARTICULAR AREA OF INTEREST SUCH AS SURGICAL ROBOTICS AND STUDENTS WORK IN THE A.I.

HUB TO INTERFACE WITH THAT AND WORK WITH THE COMPANY TO LOOK AT THE NEXT GENERATION OF WHAT SURGICAL ROBOTICS CAN BE.

TED: IT IS IN JUNCTION WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S AN EVERGREEN SUITE, WE WORK WITH A FEW YEARS WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND ONCE THAT BECOMES THE STORY OF YESTERDAY, WE PUT IN A NEW FLAVOR INTO THAT SUITE.

TED: CAN YOU SEE A POINT WHERE ENGINEERS ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOME M.D.s?

>> THESE ARE ENGINEERS THAT WILL HAVE M.D.s, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE BOTH DEGREES.

SO THE IDEA HERE -- I'M A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.

TED: YES.

>> IS FOR US TO CREATE PHYSICIANS WHO ARE ABLE TO THINK BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL PATIENT, I THINK HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, MEDICAL EDUCATION HAS BEEN GREAT AT INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, NOT AS GREAT AT THE SYSTEMS LEVEL.

THINKING ABOUT HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK UTILIZING THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE NOW THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE, TO HELP OUR PHYSICIANS TO THINK SYSTEMATICALLY ABOUT HOW TO MAKE MEDICINE BETTER, HOW TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN NOW HAVE THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE ABILITY IN THE PAST TO SOLVE BECAUSE OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US.

TED: AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, IT WILL BE YESTERDAY'S NEWS YESTERDAY.

HOW DO YOU KEEP UP WITH THAT?

>> IT'S CHANGING SO QUICKLY.

JUST FROM THE TWO YEARS WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM, A.I.

HAS CHANGED ENTIRELY.

WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND THINKING ABOUT HOW TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS IN THE NEW LANDSCAPE.

SO REALLY OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS EMBRACE A.I.

AS A TOOL THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP WITH AS THEIR CAREERS PROGRESS.

TED: CAN A.I.

BE A TOOL IN FREEING UP MEDICAL FOLKS FOR DOING THE KIND OF STUFF THEY USED TO GET BOGGED DOWN WITH IN THE PAST?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS A TOOL THEY SHOULD BE USING SO THEY HAVE MORE TIME WITH THE PATIENT, AND I THINK BETH COULD SPEAK TO THE HUMANITIES COMPONENT TO IT.

TED: PLEASE.

>> ANOTHER PART OF OUR CURRICULUM IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINEERING AND MEDICINE, WE'RE TEACHING OUR STUDENTS HOW TO BE MEDICAL DOCTORS, INTERWEAVING THE MEDICAL HUMANITIES INTO WHAT WE DO.

ONE OF THE CONCERNS WE ALL HAVE IS A.I.

MAY TAKE THE PLACE OF THE HUMAN PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND THAT HUMAN INTERACTION BETWEEN THE PHYSICIAN AND THE PATIENT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT.

DOING THE RIGHT THING.

WE KNOW A.I.

IS NOT A HUMAN, IT'S ARTIFICIAL, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO UTILIZE THIS TECHNOLOGY FOR GOOD, FOR THE GOOD OF PEOPLE AND THE GOOD OF THEIR PATIENTS.

TED: NOT A HUMAN YET, GOODNESS GRACIOUS, IT'S GETTING CLOSE, STARTING TO THINK AND DO ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

>> NOT QUITE YET.

TED: NOT QUITE YET.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> EXPECTED TO OPEN WHEN?

>> THE MEDICAL SCHOOL ITSELF, WE'VE ACCEPTED A CLASS OF STUDENTS AND STARTING LATE JULY, EARLY AUGUST, LOCATED ON THE DOWNTOWN CAMPUS FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS AND 2028, THE NEW BUILDING SHOULD BE OPENING.

TED: ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD.

AGAIN, ELIZABETH BAKER AND HEATHER CLARK, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

SOUNDS EXCITING AND SOUNDS LIKE THE DIRT IS MOVING AS WE SPEAK.

>> I EVEN HAVE A SHOVEL.

TED: GOOD FOR YOU.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

.

TED: SMILES FOR SICK CHILDREN BEGAN WHEN BRIAN BILLIDEAU ASKED FRIENDS TO DONATE NEW TOYS FOR SICK, HURT AND ABUSED KIDS IN HOSPITALS ACROSS THE PHOENIX AREA.

THE CHARITY HAS DONATED OVER 42,000 NEW TOYS AND GIFTS, INCLUDING AN EFFORT TO BUY MORE TOYS BY TURNING GOLF BALLS INTO CASH.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME IN BRIAN BILLIDEAU TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: YEAH, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS EFFORT.

REALLY WELL DONE.

DID I GET IT RIGHT THERE?

IS THAT BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

>> YEP, YOU GOT IT RIGHT.

TED: STARTED IN THE MID 90s, I KNOW IT STARTED WITH A TRAGEDY, AND I KNOW IT COULD BE DIFFICULT.

YOU TELL US AS MUCH AS YOU WANT ABOUT THE TRAGEDY AND WHY THIS SET YOU IN MOTION TO DOING WHAT YOU'VE DONE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST A NORMAL DAY IN FLAGSTAFF, AND A YOUNG GIRL RAN OUT INTO THE STREET, AND SHE RAN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, AND I NEVER SAW HER, AND I HIT HER AND SHE PASSED -- SHE DIED, THAT'S THE WORST POINT OF YOUR LIFE.

IT STILL IS.

YOU KNOW, I'LL NEVER FORGET IT, BUT I TRIED TO TURN A BAD DAY INTO SOMETHING GOOD BY HELPING KIDS IN THE HOSPITAL.

TED: YEAH, AND I STARTED BY TELLING FRIENDS, HEY, WE NEED TO GET TOYS TO THE KIDS?

>> I DID.

MY WIFE AND I USED TO DO A LOT WITH THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION, TOYS FOR TOTS.

ANYTHING THAT HAD CHILDREN INVOLVED.

AFTER I'D BEEN RETIRED FOR SOME YEARS, I CAN DO THIS MYSELF, I CAN HELP KIDS, AND WE STARTED OUT WITH LESS THAN 500 TOYS THE FIRST YEAR, AND WE'RE NOW DELIVERING BETWEEN 4,000 AND 5,000 TOYS EVERY CHRISTMAS.

TED: WOW, ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

THESE ARE SICK KIDS, SOMETIMES ABUSED KIDS AS WELL, THEY'RE IN LOCAL HOSPITALS?

>> PHOENIX CHILDREN'S, VALLEYWISE, CLEFT AND CRANIAL, FACIAL, DIGNITY HEALTH.

TED: A LOT OF ATTENTION AROUND THE HOLIDAYS?

>> A LOT OF ATTENTION AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.

HOLIDAYS IS EASY, IT'S EASY TO COLLECT MONEY THEN.

MY CHALLENGE IS THE REST OF THE YEAR.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR AND THE WAY YOU RAISED MONEY TO GET TOYS TO THE KIDS, YOU COLLECT GOLF BALLS?

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> I DO.

AT ONE POINT I HAD A LOT IN MY GARAGE AND I SOLD THEM AND I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE MONEY I GOT, AND I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT FUND-RAISER FOR THE KIDS.

NOW WE'VE COLLECTED 375,000 BALLS.

>> HOLY SMOKES.

>> RAISED OVER $67,000 JUST FROM THE GOLF BALLS.

>> WOW!

DID YOU SELL THEM TO RECYCLING AREAS?

>> A GENTLEMAN REFINISHES THEM AND PUTS THEM ON THE SECONDARY MARKET.

TED: THAT'S FANTASTIC.

THE GOLF BALLS ARE COOL AND EVERYTHING, BUT THE TOYS ARE THE MAIN STORY AND THE MAIN THING, THE REACTION FROM THE KIDS, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> WELL, I CALL IT THE FUN DAY WHEN WE DELIVER, ACTUALLY DELIVER THE TOYS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CHILDREN, IT'S THE PARENTS.

TED: YEAH.

>> IT'S THE HOSPITAL STAFF.

IT'S MY VOLUNTEERS.

EVERYBODY GETS A THRILL OUT OF IT.

IT PUMPS EVERYBODY UP.

TED: YEAH, THIS BECAME AN ORGANIZATION LIKE MAYBE EIGHT YEARS AGO?

>> 11.

TED: 11 YEARS AGO, WHAT YOU WERE DOING WAS SO SUCCESSFUL, YOU NEEDED TO GET HELP, HUH?

>> I DID.

WE'RE A 501(C)(3), AND I'M ASKING EVERYONE IN THE VALLEY TO DONATE THEIR BALLS TO SMILES FOR SICK CHILDREN.

I WILL TURN THEM INTO TOY.

TED: YOU ARE BASED IN FLAGSTAFF.

>> WE GIVE TO FLAGSTAFF MEDICAL CENTER, DON'T GET INTO PRESCOTT.

THERE ARE SO MANY HOSPITALS AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THAT ARE HOSPITALIZED EVERY YEAR, I'D LOVE TO PRESENT, GIVE THEM ALL A TOY.

WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN, AND -- TED: I THINK YOU'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

A GREAT JOB, AND IT ALL GOES BACK TO THE YOUNG GIRL.

>> IT DOES.

I'M TRYING TO HONOR HER LEGACY AND HONOR HER LIFE, AND AS I SAID, I'LL NEVER FORGET HER.

I LIKE TO SAY -- I DON'T LIKE TO SAY IT, BUT I HAD ONE LIFE BEFORE SHE RAN OUT IN THE STREET.

I HAD ANOTHER LIFE START IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER.

TED: ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

>> I WOULDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO LIVE THE SECOND LIFE.

TED: IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH ALL THIS, DID YOU EVER FORESEE THIS GETTING THIS BIG?

>> I NEVER DID, AND I HAVE TO THANK -- THE ANTHEM COMMUNITY IS PHENOMENAL, THEY ARE SO GIVING, AND THEY'VE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CHARITY, EVERY YEAR THERE'S A CHARITY CLASSIC IN ANTHEM.

WE GET HONORED AND PRESENTED A CHECK FROM THE ROTARY CLUB EVERY YEAR.

IT'S JUST A PHENOMENAL COMMUNITY.

GREAT PEOPLE, AND GREAT VOLUNTEERS.

TED: YEAH, SURE SOUNDS LIKE IT.

>> I LOVE THEM TO DEATH.

TED: I HEARD YOU QUOTED WHEN A CHILD SMILES FROM THE HOSPITAL, A LITTLE GIRL IN HEAVEN SMILES.

GOOD FOR YOU.

WHERE DO YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> SMILES FOR SICK CHILDREN.COM.

EVERYTHING IS THERE.

THEY CAN DONATE, I HOPE.

TED: YEAH.

>> EITHER GOLF BALLS OR A CHECK.

TED: YEAH.

AND THE GOLF BALLS?

YOU'RE FILLED WITH GOLF BALLS.

>> YEAH, I AM.

MY WIFE LIKES TO SAY SHE PARKS IN THE DRIVEWAY.

THERE IS LITERALLY NO ROOM.

WHEN YOU GET 50,000 GOLF BALLS AT ONE TIME IN YOUR GARAGE, IT'S A PRETTY BIG CHUNK.

TED: I'M THINKING MOST HAVE MY MARK ON THEM.

>> THEY COULD.

TED: I'VE LOST QUITE A FEW OVER THE YEARS.

>> THEY COULD HAVE.

TED: BRIAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

JUST FANTASTIC WORK, AND YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

TED: AND THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.