In 2021, the Manning/Sisson Memorial Fund was established at Main Street Community Foundation as a donor advised fund, allowing for grants to be made at the recommendation of the donors. The fund honors the memory of Mary M. Sisson and her parents, Dennis and Anna May Manning. The Mannings raised their seven children in Bristol and were involved in each sport their children played, but especially swimming. For that reason, while grants will be made from this fund to charitable organizations at the recommendation of the donors, there is a preference for programs that foster the sport of swimming through team competition and skill-building at the municipal recreational level for the City of Bristol or the Town of Plainville, and/or to support swim team programs at the collegiate level.

This year, MSCF’s Manning/Sisson Memorial Fund awarded two $1,000 grants: One to the City of Bristol Parks & Recreation for the Bristol Splash Swim Team, and another to the Town of Plainville Recreation Department for the Blue Dolphins Swim Team. Both of these grants were presented to staff of each department by MSCF staff as well as Don Sisson and Clare Wight, Mary Sisson’s husband and sister respectively.