Giving to the Land You Love

MILDRED POPKIN was a woman ahead of her time. A fierce feminist and passionate Zionist, Mildred was born in 1929 in New Orleans, LA to Lillie (née Sherman) and Dr. Hugo Jacob Popkin. Her father was a dentist with a private practice whose parents hailed from Russia and France. Lillie was a housewife whose parents were from Russia and Illinois. Mildred had two siblings-an older sister, Roslyn, and younger brother, Nathan.

At Tulane University, Mildred thrived and graduated from its School of Architecture. In the Jambalaya Yearbook of 1951, she was notably the only woman in her graduating class. In school, Mildred wore her love of Israel on her sleeve and was an officer of the Intercollegiate Zionist Federation of America.

Although she never visited Israel, Mildred was an ardent Zionist who loved the Jewish homeland and supported Jewish National Fund's vital work for the land and people of Israel. She generously donated over $4,000,000 through Charitable Gift Annuities, a Charitable Remainder Trust, and named JNF as a beneficiary of brokerage accounts.

With a successful career as an architect, Mildred settled in New York City, where she served on the Board of Editors of OCULUS, a publication of The New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. When the Ronald S. Lauder JNF House in Manhattan was being renovated, Jewish National Fund CEO Russell F. Robinson sought Mildred's input and shared the blueprints with her. Mildred passed in early 2020 and is remembered as a fervent advocate for women's rights, a proud member of Mensa (the largest and oldest society for individuals with high IQs), an accomplished architect and savvy real estate investor, and a loyal supporter of the Jewish homeland and Jewish National Fund.

To learn more about the many ways you can leave your legacy and read about others who have benefited by partnering with Jewish National Fund, visit jnflegacy.org or call 800.562.7526