INDIANA (April 6, 2026) – The Salvation Army Indiana Division has received a $3,000,000 matching grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Capital Project Initiative for Residential Youth Camps. The Salvation Army has launched the Transforming Lives Initiative to raise the $3,000,000 needed to receive the full matching grant.
The grant is one of 40 implementation grants being awarded through phase 3 of the Lilly Endowment initiative, which aims to help Indiana residential youth camps improve the overall camp experience and outcomes for youth through new, enhanced, and expanded facilities integral to quality youth camp programming. The latest grants, which were competitive, are providing partial support for large-scale capital projects.
The $3,000,000 grant award from Lilly Endowment will support several capital projects at Hidden Falls Camp & Conference Center located near Bedford, Indiana. These projects include the construction of a new multi-purpose facility and finishing work on roads, paths, and parking lots throughout the property. The grant will also fund the renovation of 18 restrooms in nine residential cabins and the replacement of exterior doors and windows on buildings across the grounds.
The multi-purpose facility will provide year-round indoor gymnasium space for sports like basketball, volleyball, pickleball, archery, and dodgeball. This new space will allow kids to play sports regardless of the heat or rain during summer camp sessions.
“The Salvation Army Hidden Falls Camp impacts thousands of youths and adults every year in Indiana,” said Major Marc Johnson, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army Indiana Division. “Lives are transformed through educational, social, and spiritual encounters with God through the world He created. For some children, this is the only real vacation they will have as a child. The Salvation Army is both grateful and humbled to receive this grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.”
The phase 3 grant is in addition to a $1,000,000 phase 2 grant from Lilly Endowment awarded in December 2025 through its Capital Project Initiative for Residential Youth Camps. A total of 69 implementation grants were awarded through phase 2 of the initiative.
With the phase 2 grant, The Salvation Army will be able to complete important capital projects at Hidden Falls Camp, including the replacement of the roof on the pool building and beginning repairs to camp infrastructure.
The pool at Hidden Falls Camp is well utilized, particularly in the summer, and a new roof is important to ensure it is available for campers to play, exercise, and build confidence in the water. Maintaining and constructing new roads, paths, and parking lots improves the safety and accessibility of camp. This work will strengthen the viability and sustainability of camp.
The Salvation Army has a long history of camp ministry dating back to the 1890s. In Indiana, our camp history began at Camp Elm in 1922, which was in Indianapolis. Due to the encroaching residential development and commercialization, The Salvation Army sold Camp Elm in 1989. Camp was held at an alternate location in 1990, and the new camp site was opened in 1991 in Lawrence County.
Hidden Falls Camp includes streams, waterfalls, and unspoiled woodlands. It provides both a scenic and functional setting for overnight youth camping, business retreats, conferences, family reunions, church group activities, and much more.
Hidden Falls Camp and Conference Center hosts hundreds of children from throughout Indiana every summer during eight residential camp sessions, which provide character building, learning about God’s creation, and spiritual formation.
To learn more about how to support The Salvation Army’s Transforming Lives Initiative, contact Jo Ann Remender at joann.remender@usc.salvationarmy.org or 317-224-1008.