Walking into Scout & Molly’s feels less like entering a boutique and more like "shopping in your best friend’s closet." Amidst the curated racks of silk and suede in Reston Town Center, Mosaic District, or Annapolis, there is a palpable sense of support that transcends mere retail. For Jane Abraham, clothing isn't just about fashion; it’s a tool for confidence, a common thread used to weave together a community of women. Abraham has spent her life as a "catalyst," helping people with similar ideas collaborate to move meaningful efforts forward.
From Student Government to the National Stage
Abraham’s journey of leadership began long before she opened her storefront. A high achiever who skipped a grade in middle school, she arrived at Oakland University in Michigan with "stars in her eyes" and a drive to change the world. It was there, through student government, that she realized meaningful change requires engagement across every sector: from political involvement to nonprofit work.
“I’ve always had a passion for seeing women succeed,” Abraham reflects, noting her career-long dedication to creating paths where women were previously underrepresented. This ambition eventually led her to work in both the political arena and the nonprofit world, where she sought to bring together women in healthcare, government, and politics to foster collaboration.
A Runway for Thrivers: Transforming Fashion into a Force for Healing
Jane Abraham’s commitment to community found its local heartbeat in 2017 with the launch of Runway to the Cure. Having recently opened Scout & Molly’s alongside her daughter, Jane sought a way to quickly connect with the Reston community. Breast cancer, a cause deeply personal to Jane due to her family’s history with the disease and her years on the national board of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, became the bridge. What began as a grassroots fashion show featuring customers and local students has since blossomed into a dedicated nonprofit raising approximately $100,000 annually for research and patient support.
The defining shift in the event’s evolution occurred when Jane and her non-profit board decided that every woman on the catwalk would be a "thriver." This distinction is vital; it celebrates women who are not just surviving but living vibrantly after their journey. "It’s the most meaningful process," Jane reflects, describing the intimate styling sessions where she gets to know each of the 30 models personally while fitting them with outfits. When these women finally step into the spotlight at the Reston Town Center Pavilion, their individual stories are shared with the crowd, creating emotional bonds that turn participants into "legacy models" who return year after year to volunteer.
The impact of this work extends well beyond the runway through a long-term research partnership with the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at the Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Simultaneously, Jane channels the resources of her boutique to support Women Giving Back in Sterling, Virginia. By donating large quantities of brand-new professional attire and seasonal inventory, she ensures that women facing financial hardship can walk into job interviews or life milestones with confidence and dignity.
Redefining the National Mall
Abraham’s most enduring legacy may be the one currently being etched into the landscape of the National Mall. In 2014, she was asked to chair a bipartisan congressional commission to study the creation of a National Women’s History Museum. Working with a team of four Republicans and four Democrats, Abraham insisted on a singular rule: no recommendation would move forward unless it was unanimous.
"That meant we truly had to listen to each other and work through our differences," she recalls.
The strategy was successful; the commission unanimously recommended the museum become part of the Smithsonian Institution. Legislation passed in December 2020 and was signed into law, leading Jane to her current role as Advisory Council Co-chair of the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum alongside former Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. Together, they have already helped raise over $71 million toward construction and national programming.
While the physical building is still in progress, the museum is already bringing history to life through digital initiatives and volunteer projects like "Wikipedia edit-a-thons" to expand stories about notable women often missing from historical records. For the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S., the museum is launching an augmented reality project that pairs women's stories with five existing monuments of men on the National Mall.
The Common Thread
Across her boutique, the fashion show, and the museum effort, Jane sees a singular mission: uplifting women and building community. “Women’s history is American history,” she says firmly, noting that women were present at every moment of the country’s development. Abraham hopes her work inspires future generations to make community commitment part of their "DNA." In her view, when people unite around a common purpose, whether finding a cure or recording forgotten history, it benefits everyone.
I’ve always had a passion for seeing women succeed...Women’s history is American history. We were present at every moment of the country’s development. When people unite around a common purpose, it benefits everyone, ensuring our stories are never forgotten.