Thank You, Joan Jacobs, for Dedicating Your Life to Serving and Enhancing the San Diego Community
May 9, 2024
The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joan Jacobs, a truly dedicated civic leader and visionary philanthropist who worked to make the world a better place.
Together with her husband, Irwin, Joan’s philanthropic support spanned health and medicine, arts and culture, and technology. She also dedicated herself to serving on many community and civic boards, always with the goal of enhancing our region. She leaves a lasting legacy of compassion and support for so many nonprofits in our region.
At the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank we were blessed to have Joan’s support for our mission to end hunger in San Diego County for more than two decades. Side-by-side, Joan and Irwin provided generous support and resources to help our organization grow and become the true regional food safety net for our County.
Beginning in 2002, Joan and Irwin supported the Food Bank in its efforts to relocate the Food Bank’s operation from Liberty Station to Miramar. In 2011, along with community leader Stephen P. Cushman, they eliminated the Miramar facility’s mortgage leading to the organizational recognition - “Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank”. As supporters of our green initiatives, they assisted with the installation of 1,400 solar panels at our Miramar warehouse in 2014, and they helped establish our recycling and composting center in 2016.
On top of all this incredible support, they’ve also generously donated funds to provide more than 15 million meals to San Diegans in need over the years.
Joan and Irwin’s belief in creating positive generational change has forever transformed this organization and together they have set the true north for our organization. Joan is and always will be known as a trailblazer for change, the matriarch of the generous Jacobs family and a friend to this organization. We count ourselves blessed to have been touched by her vision for our region.
