New Zealander Wins the Big One

Scott Dixon, who led for 115 of the 200 total laps, won the 92nd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race yesterday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This is the first "500" win for the native of New Zealand.

Vitor Meira of Brazil was second, and Marco Andretti, an Italian-American, came in third.

The 93rd Indy "500" is 24 May 2009.

Lilly Foundation Gives to China, Burma Relief Efforts

Lilly Foundation, the charitable arm of Eli Lilly and Co., announced that it is giving $1.1 million to relief organizations working in China and Myanmar (Burma), according to The Indianapolis Business Journal.

To help with relief efforts after a massive earthquake in China, the foundation is giving $800,000 in antibiotics, and possibly insulin and mental health medications later. The foundation also will give $175,000 in cash to Project HOPE and Mercy Corps., and will match up to $25,000 in employee contributions to the American Red Cross China Relief Fund.

In Myanmar, where a cyclone and flooding killed thousands, Lilly Foundation will give $100,000 in cash to Save the Children and World Vision.

"Tibet Night" Scheduled for 31 May

The International Tibet Independence Movement will host a "Tibet Night" on 31 May (time to be decided).

It'll take place at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street, Indianapolis, and will include Tibetan food, culture, a short movie and "lots of opportunities to talk with others interested in Tibet".

Intended as a fundraiser, the suggested donation is $15 for adults and $10 for students. For more information, contact Larry Gerstein, president of ITIM.

Two Worlds, One Language Gala Tickets Available

Tickets for the Grand Gala Opening Celebration and Dinner for "Two Worlds, One Language Through Art" on 28 June are available from Kelly Lamm, 317:255-2465 x260.

"Two Worlds, One Language Through Art" is a series of programs, workshops and lectures based on a cultural exchange with artists from Shandong College of Arts (Jinan, China) taking place at the Indianapolis Art Center 27 June through 24 August.

Latin Sounds to Fill the Artsgarden Wednesday

Roberto Montenero and the Jazzmen will play a free concert from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. tomorrow (14 May) in the Indianapolis Artsgarden, above the intersection of Illinois and Washington streets, downtown.

The group plays a variety of music, focusing on Latin sounds.

Confucius in West Lafayette

Purdue University has a Confucius Institute, as does Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

In partnership with Purdue's China Center, CIP promotes Chinese programs and studies on China, initiate and foster Chinese language and cultural programs to serve Purdue University, the greater Lafayette community and the State of Indiana.

It provides information and expertise on Chinese culture and language education in business, global engineering and tourism for academic programs, research project teams, community outreach and K-12 schools.

Seems there are now 210 institutes in 64 countries, with a total of 500 planned by 2010.

Once upon a time, Germany had Goethe Institutes everywhere. Guess we can see where power is shifting these days.

Benefit for Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation

An evening of music by the Pandya Family is planned from 5:30-7:30 p.m. 1 June at the India Community Center, 4420 West 56th Street, Indianapolis.

Although admission is free, this is a fundraiser, sponsored by the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of the United States to benefit primary education in rural India.

The foundation is a charitable trust that initiates, supports, and runs non-formal one-teacher schools (popularly known as "Ekal Vidyalayas") all over the country.

The foundation's Indianapolis coordinators are Vimal Patel, 317:409-0113, and Kumar Dave, 317:889-7328.