Assistance League® of Riverside is proud to honor Marc and Kelly Silva as the 2026 Community Hero Award recipients for their extraordinary commitment to students at Ramona High School. Together, Marc and Kelly have dedicated over 65 combined years to educating and mentoring high school students.

Early in her career, Kelly joined the Chemistry and Environmental Science department at Ramona High School, with Marc joining the faculty just two years later in the Math Department. Despite teaching in different subject areas, the couple has shared lunch together every school day for more than three decades — a reflection of both their partnership and their shared commitment to education.

Both also serve as Senior Class advisors, supporting students academically and personally as they prepare for life beyond high school.

Both Marc and Kelly are dedicated to the AVID program at Ramona High School.  AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college-readiness program designed to equip high school students with the academic, organizational, and social skills needed to succeed in rigorous courses and prepare for college.

AVID began in San Diego in 1980 and was introduced at Ramona High School in 1988. Kelly was a member of the site team that brought AVID to Ramona when it was noticed that only 7 students of the graduating class went on to a four-year college. Marc has taught in the program since 1998, and Kelly has been instrumental in expanding college‑preparatory opportunities by helping bring Honors courses to Ramona — a critical step in supporting AVID students’ academic goals.

Today, AVID students make up about 30 percent of Ramona’s student body. The program provides full‑time counseling support, college field trips, and exposure to higher‑education opportunities, helping students envision and achieve a college‑bound future.

Through one of Assistance League® of Riverside’s programs, College and Career Bound, scholarships are offered to AVID students for the college field trips taken during spring break each year. Marc and Kelly have participated in these trips over their years as AVID teachers and make a point to visit with former AVID students attending the colleges they are visiting with their current students.

Marc and Kelly are both lifelong Riverside residents and parents to one son, Kieran, who will soon graduate from Harvard University.

The Silvas will be recognized at Assistance League® of Riverside’s annual fundraising event, Diamond Legacy: Sparkling Future, celebrating 60 years of service. The event will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Riverside Convention Center.

Assistance League® of Riverside is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to providing programs that address unmet needs for children and young adults in our community.