 The eldest daughter of wealthy industrialist Ernst Abbe, Grete Unrein had a long history of work with charitable institutions in Jena.Since the founding of the Jena Children's Hospital she endeavoured to improve its economic situation, and was also head of the Jena maternity home, a board member and chairwoman of the women's union of the Red Cross, and a patron and board member of the reading hall club ("Lesehallenverein").One of her most important efforts was in providing girls and young women with equal opportunities for training and in establishing their own professions.