More than 800 people gathered on May 4 for a gala dinner to celebrate the public announcement of The Johns Hopkins Campaign: Knowledge for the World and to pay tribute to Michael R. Bloomberg ’64. Now mayor of New York, the Whiting School alumnus on that day completed his term as chairman of the Johns Hopkins University Board of Trustees.

At the festive affair, held in the new Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center, Hopkins President William R. Brody observed that the “Bloomberg years” will be long remembered as a “transforming era in the history of Johns Hopkins.” The founder of Bloomberg, L.P. has contributed more than $107.5 million to the University.

Raymond “Chip” Mason, chairman, president and CEO of Legg Mason Inc., succeeded Bloomberg as chair of the trustees.

The Hopkins campaign goal is to raise $2 billion in private funds by 2007 in order to better position Hopkins within an increasingly complex and globalized society to teach, discover, and put knowledge to work for humanity. Gifts will be used to build and renovate facilities, increase endowment for student aid and faculty support, and advance research, academic and clinical initiatives.