The founder and chief executive officer of local firm Consultants in Marketing Inc., created DJs for PJs in 2003, a daylong event designed to collect new pajamas for children in crisis at various charities in Las Vegas. This year's collection takes place on April 25 at four locations: at Boca Park at Charleston and Rampart boulevards, at Wal-Mart at Eastern and Serene avenues, at Sunset Station at 1301 W. Sunset Road in Henderson and at Santa Fe Station at 4949 N. Rancho Drive.
Last year, more than 12,000 pairs of pajamas were collected, but when Neighbors and her classmates in the Leadership Las Vegas program first came up with the idea for the event, she never thought it would grow to become an annual success.
"It's amazing how it's developed," Neighbors said. "We've grown from one location that first year to four this year, so hopefully we'll continue to collect more. I've been blown away by the outpouring of community generosity for this event, and the number of calls I get from people wanting to participate, kids through their schools, their parents and corporations."
Neighbors was inspired to give back to the community in a unique way by a visit to the Child Haven shelter and a little suggestion from her mom.
"Our leadership class did a visit to Child Haven, and as soon as I walked in, there was a little boy named Nigel who just crawled right into my heart," she said. "He kept clinging to me throughout the two hours I was there, and when it was time to leave, I was just crushed. I went to the director and said, 'This was supposed to be a couple hours of volunteer service, but what do you need?' She told me the one thing they always need is pajamas for the children.
"Then I got home that night and I was telling my mother about the experience, and she said, 'You know, with all your media contacts, you really ought to be able to do something to help. You should do DJs for PJs.' And I thought it was such a great idea."
Since then, the event has partnered with the Beasley Broadcast Group and its local stations -- Coyote Country 104.3 KJUL-FM, Fresh 102.7 KSTJ-FM, Classic Hits 96.3 KKLZ-FM, Country Legends 790 KBET-AM and News Talk 720 KDWN-AM -- to participate by broadcasting from the collection points and encouraging locals to donate pajamas for the cause.
Now in its sixth year, the event has added corporate sponsors Wal-Mart and Station Casinos.
Rick Gracia, deputy chief of support services for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, was in Neighbors' Leadership Las Vegas class in 2003 and has been involved in DJs for PJs since its inception.
"We were required to do a class project, and we voted on this one, and we just loved doing it so much that we've followed it up," Gracia said. "We didn't expect it to continue, but after the success of the first one, that really stimulated it and brought it about again."
Gracia said he's not sure what this year's results will be, but he's hoping it will continue to grow.
"I don't know what's going to happen this year with the economic downturn, but we have four locations and we're hoping the community can respond," he said. "One thing that's always been rewarding for me is that although this is not a fire department function, our firefighters have really responded to this out of their own desire and been involved in dropping off pajamas and coming through with the fire truck. They're really generous."
Neighbors said her fellow organizers always try to stop her from setting lofty goals.
"They won't allow me to set an official goal because I always set such high ones," she said. "We say we'd like to get more than (last year's total), but in my gut, I'd really like to get to 15,000. If we can continue to grow at that level, then next year we can take on more charities to help."
This year's recipients include Child Haven, Girls and Boys Town, the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, SAFE House, the Shade Tree Shelter, the Variety Early Learning Center and the Women's Development Center.
All Las Vegas area Wal-Mart stores will host pajama donation receptacles up to the April 25 event.
For more information, visit www.djsforpjs.org or call 944-2464, Ext. 21.
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