Wishes For Children Foundation

Meet the other board members

Charles B. Pate III was born and raised in Hamlet, North Carolina, 75 miles southeast of Charlotte. He graduated from Marlboro Academy in Bennettsville, South Carolina. An avid athlete, Charles received his Associates Degree in Biology at Wingate College, Wingate, NC in 1974. He studied marine biology at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington.

In 1974, he established a silk screen company, the "Wizard Silk Screen" in Wilmington, NC. After four successful years, he was able to retire at the age of 25, selling his business to pursue his passion of community service. Charles became an EMT, Emergency Medical Technician, at the local volunteer rescue squad.

In March of 1980, Charles joined the US Navy. He thought, "What better way to serve than to serve your country?" He spent 20 years in the US Navy, stationed at Damn Neck, VA, Orlando, FL, and San Diego, CA. Most of his 20 years were served in combat systems in San Diego with the exception of a few years in Yokosuka, Japan.

Combat Systems is an intense job maintaining radio communications between air, surface, subsurface, and land bases. He was an air controller tracking and plotting surface and subsurface contacts.

Charles served in Desert Storm toward the later part of the 80's. He worked closely with different SEAL teams on special operations. He was always highly motivated and at the forefront with his career in the Navy. He completed his BS Degree at University New York State during this time. It was an honor for him to serve and defend the Constitution of the United States.

In April 0f 2001, he retired from the US Navy with honors and settled in Temecula in March of 2002 with his wife of ten years, Connie. Charles and Connie were without children. This was a missing element in his life.

So Charles began coaching baseball for the Murrieta COLT baseball league. He also became active in the Temecula Creek Men's Golf Club. After researching different ways he could benefit children and more specifically, the children of Temecula, he decided to bring his excitement for golf, love for children and his passion for serving together for the 1st Annual Wishes for Children Classic Golf Tournament.

He established the Wishes for Children Foundation in 2004 and held the very first golf tournament in 2004.

Now, as the founder, CEO, and President of Wishes for Children, Charles can pursue his passion to serve and utilize the discipline he developed through his Navy career toward his ultimate desire: to benefit the community in which he lives through the children.

Charles B. Pate III is an active member of the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce, and President of Temecula Creek Inn Men's Golf Club. Charles works part time at Staples on Highway 79 South. His goal is to furnish the resources necessary to provide for children in this area that have need. He believes a child's smile is "priceless".

Charles Pate
Founder/President