The Henri Sumner Scholarship Fund

Henri Sumner, hairstylist to generations of New Haveners at his Whalley Avenue salon With These Hands, approached his craft, and life, as an artist.  

“He was uncompromising in his perfection – in his vision, in his artistry,” Jan Parker eulogized during Sumner’s memorial service in 2019. “He captured the essence of what it means to live unapologetically, to dream big dreams and have the patience and the perseverance to see those dreams come true.”

Tall, stylish and cultured, Sumner was a noticeable man about town in New Haven. His talents included interior design, fashion and community building. He served as chairman of the New Haven Cultural Affairs Department and was the entertainment chair of the local Presidential Inaugural Ball following the first election of President Barack Obama. He even ran for mayor four times.  

“When he saw a need that he could address, he did so – plain and simple,” said Parker.

While he never had any children of his own, he was a mentor to hundreds of young people who crossed his path, including students from the local campuses of Albertus Magnus College, Southern Connecticut State University and Yale University.

In 2015, Sumner and his special friends extended his commitment to local youth by establishing the Henri Sumner Scholarship Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to support the dreams of New Haven students bound for college. Sumner had a particular interest in helping graduates from his alma mater, Hillhouse High School, pursue the arts. Please consider a donation through the form below to help ensure that his generosity continues to benefit future generations.