NEW YORK CITY ? Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire known for his philanthropy, anonymously donated $100 million Thursday to Johns Hopkins University to support stem cell research, a new children’s hospital and other projects, The Associated Press has learned.

The Republican mayor, who graduated from Johns Hopkins and is a former Hopkins board chairman, has donated hundreds of millions to the school over the years. The school of public health at Hopkins bears his name.

A person familiar with his philanthropy confirmed the latest $100 million gift on condition of anonymity, citing Bloomberg’s desire for privacy. The mayor’s spokesman, Stu Loeser, declined to comment on Bloomberg’s giving.

The university said the money will help fund the renovation of a building on the Homewood campus, projects at the School of Public Health and a Children’s Tower at Hopkins Hospital.