Posted on February 3, 2006

Johns Hopkins Receives $100 Million From New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Originally described as an anonymous donor, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has made a $100 million gift to his alma mater, Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University, in support of a variety of initiatives, the Baltimore Sun reports.

The gift will support four projects: stem cell research, the renovation of Gilman Hall on the school's Homewood campus, initiatives at the School of Public Health, and construction of a $275 million, 205-bed Children's Tower at Johns Hopkins Hospital. University officials said Bllomberg had wanted to keep not only his name private but also the way in which the gift would be divided among the four projects. Of the three nine-figure gifts Johns Hopkins has received in its history, at least two were from Bloomberg.

According to Dr. Edward D. Miller, dean and chief executive officer of Hopkins Medical Institutions, raising money for capital expenses to construct large centers such as the children's hospital has been difficult. "This will be a gift that will make a lot possible."