Golden State Benefit on Wednesday to Honor Dr. James E. Cheek

Dr. James E. Cheek, president of Howard University, will receive the Golden State Minority Foundation’s 1985 Medal of Excellence at its 10th annual “Salute to Minority Education” Wednesday at the Beverly Wilshire. Proceeds from the $200-per-plate dinner will be used to provide financial assistance to minority students in the Southern California area pursing careers in business administration, according to Golden State Minority Foundation associate director Jean Saunders.

Chairman of the event, which will feature a memorial tribute to the foundation’s late organizer and first president, Ernest Shell, is Willard Z. Carr. Carr is a partner with the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. The Golden State Minority Foundation, a public, nonprofit organization, was founded in 1974 and since then has provided scholarships, grants and loans to more than 500 students.