Honoring Joan and Irwin Jacobs with Patrons of the Prado’s ICON Award
Few have championed and advanced San Diego’s arts, science and cultural landscape as profoundly as Joan and Irwin Jacobs. Their extraordinary philanthropy has enriched countless lives, and will be celebrated when Irwin Jacobs accepts, on behalf of himself and his late wife Joan, Patrons of the Prado’s ICON Award for Arts & Culture recognizing positive community impact for the greater cultural good. The award will be presented at Patrons’ gala, “CLUB MASTERPIECE: One Haute Havana Night,” on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.
Joan and Irwin Jacobs have provided transformational support to several Patrons of the Prado beneficiaries, including San Diego Natural History Museum, which received a landmark $10 million grant establishing the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Science and Conservation. They have also made significant contributions to The Old Globe and toward the extensive renovation of the Mingei International Museum, as well as providing substantial funding to the Fleet Science Center.
CLUB MASTERPIECE guests will experience a glamorous evening under the stars, including a curated auction of exclusive trips and unique experiences, craft cocktails and gourmet dining from Chef Jeffrey Strauss, live entertainment by premier dance band, NRG Music & Productions, and featuring Patrons’ “PoP the Cork Drawing,” where the winner receives a vast collection of fine wines.
Since 1997, Patrons of the Prado has raised over $6.6 million to help their Balboa Park beneficiaries address their greatest needs and foster development of innovative programming. Patrons’ signature educational initiative, “Bucks4Buses,” has enabled over 400,000 visits by San Diego County K-12 schoolchildren to experience sometimes life-changing opportunities in the Park.
Joan and Irwin Jacobs exemplify how vision, integrity, and compassion can positively shape a community, and, although Joan passed away in 2024, her legacy lives on. Please join Patrons in honoring them; for more information, visit www.patronsoftheprado.org.
