A Lasting Gift

FOR OVER TWO DECADES, SUMI MAKEY DEDICATED HER LIFE TO SUPPORTING STUDENTS AT THE EAST-WEST CENTER. Born Sumi Yoshizawa on Maui to Japanese immigrant parents, she pursued higher education at the University of Hawai‘i and later earned a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Columbia University. She worked as a counselor at the University of Illinois and The Ohio State University before serving in the federal government in Washington, DC, where she met her husband, Henry Makey.

In 1964, Sumi joined EWC and played a key role in establishing its student programs. In 1979, she became the first Dean of the Office of Student Affairs & Open Grants, helping bring the first students from China and Bhutan to the Center. She retired in 1988 but remained engaged in the Center’s mission.

In 2008, she established the Sumi Makey Scholarship Awards in Arts and Humanities. She believed that the humanities play a vital role in our individual lives and in making the world a better place to live. To date, 21 students have received her scholarship. Sumi remained an active supporter of EWC until her passing in 2019. Her estate gift generously supported the EWCA Alumni Endowment Fund and the Arts Program.

Eric Chang, EWC Arts Program Manager, recalled a moment with Sumi that deeply resonated with him: “She had a really strong grip, and she grabbed my arm and said, ‘I support the Arts Program because of the work you do with students, school kids.’ Growing up on Maui, Sumi never had opportunities like this, and she wanted to ensure that international artists and cultural exchanges reached young people.”

Her close friend and fellow EWC supporter, Ulrike Siddiqi, emphasized the deep friendships and mutual commitment to giving that shaped Sumi’s philanthropic decisions: “Sumi decided on her giving to the EWC out of our friendship and shared compassion for the Center’s mission.”

Colleagues also admired Sumi’s leadership style. June Hirano, a retired EWC employee who worked with her, reflected, “As a boss, she was very willing to give credit where credit was due and also to share responsibilities with others.” Her ability to encourage collaboration and uplift those around her made her not just a respected administrator but also a cherished mentor.

Sumi Makey continues to touch the lives of many through her service to the Center and philanthropic legacy that will benefit scholars, artists, and audiences for generations.