Evette Cardona has been named a 2026 Community Grand Marshal for her decades of leadership in philanthropy and community service. A Puerto Rican lesbian and native Chicagoan, Cardona retired in May 2025 from the Polk Bros. Foundation after a 27-year career, most recently serving as vice president of programs.

Cardona is a graduate of the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, where she received the Leadership in Diversity Alumni Award and the Elizabeth Butler Award for outstanding professional achievement. She has also taught courses in philanthropy and public policy at the University of Chicago.

A longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ and Latina communities, Cardona is a co-founder of Women of All Colors and Cultures Together and Amigas Latinas, organizations created to support Latina lesbian, bisexual, and questioning women. She was also a founding board member of Center on Halsted. Today, she continues to serve on the steering committees of Chicago Latines in Philanthropy and the Illinois Immigration Funders Collaborative, remaining deeply engaged in advancing equity and opportunity across Chicago.