Success Through Community | A Conversation with Tina Johnson

So do you think the philanthropic spirit came just because of your childhood and being adopted? When is the first time you really remember philanthropy entering your life?

I think for me, I mean, I remember going to mass and asking about this plate thing that, you know, that or, you know, giving and trying to understand about helping other people.

But I think my first memory was being in elementary school and the little girl beside me didn't have lunch and sharing my lunch with her.

So it's always kind of been in your DNA.

Yes.

And then, so fast forward, Loudoun County, you decide to start your first business, which was the event management business.

Tell me what made you want to start that.

Well, it was funny.

It just kind of fell into it because I had a couple businesses prior to that.

And I had a shop in downtown Herndon with a friend of mine.

It was a consignment, high-end consignment shop for babies.

That's what she did, babies and children.

Yeah.

And it had a second floor loft.

And at that time, I was a licensed image consultant.

And so I kind of, because I had four children in five years, I was pregnant all the time.

And so that was typically the type of client that I was attracted to was the expected mom.

Okay.

And then just kind of fell into more of like the executive role.

woman and would go and do color for them.

And then it just fell out.

I started doing maternity clothing.

And then I opened the upstairs and it was called Between Friends.

And so as a executive woman, you could come And you could rent a week's worth of clothes, maternity clothes, suits and accessories, everything.

Because at that time, I mean, maternity clothes were so expensive and we were expected to wear dresses and suits and clothes.