Mystery donor of $1 million for stem cell research in …

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- It's a secret no more.

The donor who gave $1 million last spring to the newly formed Alabama Institute of Medicine has been revealed: Chris Drummond. (Think coal).

He's the youngest of seven children of coal magnate, Garry Neal Drummond, CEO of Drummond Company, one of the world's largest private companies.

His name was revealed to AL.com just ahead of a big fund-raising gala this evening at WorkPlay.

The big reveal was inevitable as it is disclosed in a new book by Tory Williams, co-founder of the private, nonprofit company which received the donation. She was unpacking boxes of the book at WorkPlay today to give away to the 176 guests at the sold-out event. The gala features entertainer Taylor Hicks. The moderator is Peter Wilderotter, president and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

The 28-year-old Drummond is introverted and has reluctantly agreed to be named, Williams said.

But she said Drummond is excited about the potential that stem cell research both medically and economically for Alabama and hopes his donation will inspire others to give.

Willilams met Drummond through her husband, Ron Williams, a medical sales manager with Stryker Orthopaedics. The couple invited Drummond to go with them, along with AIM co-founder Roman Reed, to the 2013 World Stem Cell Summit in California.

"He [Drummond] was blown away," Williams said.

Drummond's million-dollar donation last March kick-started the Alabama nonprofit, which immediately funded three projects at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. For details go here.

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Mystery donor of $1 million for stem cell research in ...