News Release

An anonymous benefactor has committed $100 million to the Johns Hopkins: Knowledge for the World campaign, supporting critical initiatives in medicine, public health and the humanities.

The gift, to be divided among a number of construction, renovation, research and other projects, is the fourth nine-figure commitment in the history of the Johns Hopkins Institutions, and the third in the current campaign.

"This gift is breathtaking not only in size, but also in scope, addressing a number of our most important priorities," said William R. Brody, president of The Johns Hopkins University. "Our benefactor knows what our teachers do for students, what our doctors do for patients and what our researchers do for humanity and has chosen to support our work in all three arenas. This incredible generosity will have a very, very significant impact for many decades to come."

Specifically, the gift will be directed to:

Assist with construction of a new children's tower at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, replacing facilities, more than 40 years old, that are overcrowded and outmoded and that do not easily accommodate today's medical technology. Construction is to begin this year on the 12- story, 560,000-square-foot tower, which will include a pediatric trauma center, 205 inpatient beds, 10 operating rooms, outpatient care for oncology and psychiatry, and the Pediatric Clinical Research Unit, among other services. The $275.5 million tower, due for completion in 2009, will be part of a $725 million building that will also include an adult cardiovascular and critical care tower.

Support renovation of Gilman Hall, the iconic main academic building on The Johns Hopkins University's Homewood campus. The 90-year-old home of the university's humanities departments — such as history, English, philosophy, Near Eastern studies, classics and foreign languages and literature — is the intellectual heart of the university. It is long overdue for state-of-the-art classrooms and lecture halls, additional seminar rooms and study areas, a new home for the university's archaeological museum and upgraded mechanical systems. Selection of an architect and contractor for the $35 million project is under way.

Initiatives in the School of Medicine and its Institute for Cell Engineering, where scientists are doing fundamental research that may lead to the use of reprogrammed stem cells as treatments for conditions ranging from Parkinson's disease, ALS and diabetes to heart failure, stroke and spinal cord injury.

A number of initiatives in the Bloomberg School of Public Health. The first school of its kind and the world's largest school of public health, the school is dedicated to protecting health and saving lives through pioneering research, application of its expertise in programs around the world and education of tomorrow's public health scientists and practitioners.

The Johns Hopkins: Knowledge for the World campaign began its silent phase in July 2000 and was launched publicly in 2002. The campaign, which benefits both The Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, has focused on endowment for student aid and faculty support; research, academic, and clinical initiatives; and building and upgrading facilities on all Johns Hopkins campuses.