"We hope to foster compassion, kindness and build the character of young individuals through the sport of swimming in the same manner it fulfilled our lives" said Don Sisson, Mary's husband.

Swimming has always been instrumental to the Manning and Sisson families of Bristol and Plainville, so when we decided to establish a fund at the Main Street Community Foundation to honor the memory of Mary M. Sisson along with her parents, Dennis and Anna May Manning , we knew what the purpose would be. 

In 2021, the Manning/Sisson Memorial Fund was established as a donor advised fund, allowing for grants to be made at the recommendations  of the donors. The grants will be awarded to organizations with preference for programs that foster the sport of swimming through team competition and skill-building at the municipal recreation level for the City of Bristol or the Town or Plainville, and/or support of swim team programs at the collegiate level.

Since October 2021, we have been honored to award a total of $16,000.00 in grants from the Manning/Sisson Memorial Fund to the Bristol Parks and Recreation Department and the Plainville Recreation Department.

"We are so proud to support these programs," said Clare Wight, Dennis and Anna May Manning's daughter.