Norfolk - In January, 9-year-old Gianni Graham set a goal to collect 1,000 Barbie dolls for 1,000 girls in shelters and foster homes across Hampton Roads, today she exceeded that goal.
"I never thought I would collect over 1,000 barbies," said Graham.
When Graham started her collection, she only had five dolls. They were her own Christmas gifts that she decided to donate instead of play with.
"I want it to make them feel that they have a friend to talk to and play with," explained Graham. "When they are going through a hard time to make it easier."
As her word of her goal got out, the donations started piling in. She began getting dolls from people across the country and across the world.
Although her original goal has been completed, Graham says she's not done helping others. This week she launched her own website, 1KBarbiesfor1KGirls.com. Her new goal is to continue collecting Barbie dolls for girls locally while also inspiring girls across the country to begin their own collection for girls in their city.
