John A. Hillebrand Foundation Gifts $100,000 to Kids Discovery Factory

Children playing in the pilot museum. Next year, children will have access to a three-story museum thanks to generous donors like the JAH Foundation.

Kids Discovery Factory is thrilled to announce a generous $100,000 gift from the John A. Hillenbrand Family Foundation to support the construction of the future children’s museum in downtown Batesville. This transformative investment brings the museum one step closer to opening its doors to thousands of children and families across southeastern Indiana.

The new 10,000-square-foot museum will feature hands-on exhibits exploring science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Exhibits will highlight themes of water, air, light, manufacturing, and innovation, with dedicated studio spaces providing opportunities for invention, design, and creativity.

“We are deeply grateful to the John A. Hillenbrand Family Foundation for their incredible generosity and belief in our mission,” said Emili Uden, Executive Director of Kids Discovery Factory. “Their support ensures that children across southeastern Indiana will soon have access to a museum designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence.”

Since 2013, Kids Discovery Factory has engaged more than 50,000 children through mobile programs, camps, and outreach. The future museum—slated to open in 2026—will serve as a destination for families, schools, and community partnerships, while contributing to the long-term vitality of downtown Batesville and the region as a whole.

The John A. Hillenbrand Foundation gift underscores the importance of community philanthropy in making the project possible. With major contributions from the City of Batesville, READI grant funding, corporate partners, and private donors, Kids Discovery Factory has already raised significant momentum toward its $5.4 million capital campaign goal.