Meet the Tate's

Golden & Elise

Golden and Elise Tate believe that giving to others is far more satisfying than receiving.

Their lives have been shaped by faith, grit, service, and a deep desire to leave every person better than they found them. Together, they are raising their three children to see service not as an obligation, but as a way of life, a natural response to the abundant blessings God has entrusted to them.

Their story is one of miracles, answered prayers, and the kind of compassion that grows each time God places a need in their path.

Golden Tate III

A Nashville boy whose journey came full circle.

Golden’s story began right here in Nashville, where he stunned the crowd at St. Joseph School by scoring seven touchdowns in his very first middle school game. That moment led him from Pope John Paul II High School, to the University of Notre Dame, and ultimately to the NFL.

At Notre Dame, Golden became one of the most electric athletes in the nation.

Unanimous All-American (2009)
Fred Biletnikoff Award Winner – honoring the top wide receiver in college football
157 receptions, 2,707 receiving yards, 26 touchdowns in just three seasons
Also drafted twice into Major League Baseball, proving his rare athletic versatility

In 2010, Golden was drafted in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He went on to:

Score one of the most memorable touchdowns in Seahawks history
Help the Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII
Deliver a career-best season with the Detroit Lions (99 receptions, 1,330 yards)
Earn a Pro Bowl selection in 2014
Star again in the 2015 Pro Bowl, leading his team in receiving

But the moments Golden cherishes most extend far beyond the field.

He has traveled to Germany and Kuwait as part of a USO/NFL tour, spending time with American troops he calls “the real heroes.” Those visits cemented his desire to give back — not only to veterans, but to anyone in need of community, dignity, or hope.

Golden stated:

“Elise and I come from different paths but share the same core: grit, faith, and a deep love for family. We hope our children see that giving to others is far more satisfying than receiving.”

Today, after years of playing across the country, Golden has brought his family home to Nashville, just miles from where his journey began. Hosting his annual football camp at JP2, awarding scholarships to young athletes, and serving local families feels like a full-circle blessing.

Elise Tate

A heart for children, families, and those in need.

Elise is the hands and heart behind much of the daily work of the Golden Future Foundation. A mother, advocate, and do-er by nature, Elise is passionate about serving children, foster families, teachers, schools, and rescue animals, often stepping in quietly, personally, and prayerfully.

Her compassion is fueled by faith and deep personal experience.

During her pregnancy with their first son, affectionately nicknamed “Goalie," Elise faced a frightening, mysterious medical complication. A blood clot that appeared throughout her pregnancy required 35+ scans, weekly monitoring, and eventually a surgical plan to deliver safely.

And then, just days before her scheduled delivery… the clot vanished.

Doctors had no medical explanation.

Elise says it best:

“It was all God. And because of that miracle, I wanted to make the pregnancy about blessing others, not about me.”

Instead of a traditional gender reveal, Elise launched the Gender Reveal Challenge, encouraging families across the country to donate clothing, toys, or essentials to a child in need each time they learned their baby’s gender.
The movement spread nationwide, appearing on national TV and blessing hundreds of children.

Since then, Elise’s calling has only grown:

Creating foster care room makeovers
Supporting foster parents stepping into new placement
Organizing coat drives for thousands of children
Providing essential equipment for schools in underserved areas
Donating microwaves, refrigerators, snacks, and supplies for teachers
Supporting animal rescues through supplies, safe placements, and emergency care
Mobilizing communities to say “yes” together

Her heart for others is steady, humble, tireless — and rooted in gratitude and faith.

Together: A Shared Calling to Serve

Golden and Elise founded Golden Future Foundation in 2014 to honor U.S. military members — the heroes who protect our freedoms. But as their family grew, so did their calling.

Through prayer, parenthood, and the needs they witnessed up close, they realized something profound:

Heroes come in many forms.

Veterans
Teachers
Foster parents
Rescue volunteers
Single parents
Families in crisis
And children — always the children — who deserve warmth, safety, and hope

Golden and Elise believe deeply that when God places someone in your path, He is inviting you to step in with compassion. Their lives are dedicated to responding to those invitations with open hands and generous hearts.

Why They Serve

Their mission isn’t about projects.
It isn’t about numbers.
It isn’t about recognition.

It’s about people.

It’s about faith.

It’s about leaving every person, from a military child missing their parent, to a foster family beginning again, to a little boy waiting for a coat, feeling seen, supported, and loved.

A Full-Circle Blessing

Returning to Nashville has allowed the Tates to serve in the very place where the story began. Whether hosting football camps, giving scholarships, supporting schools, or quietly blessing families in need, they remain grounded in one belief:

“When we say yes, God provides the rest.”