GREAT WHITE guitarist Ty Longley was among 100 people tragically killed in The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island on February 20th, 2003, when pyrotechnics set off ignited flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage.

Longley's nine-year-old son Acey never met his father and according to Chicagotribune.com, he was so excited about the impending birth of his first child that he told his girlfriend, Heidi, he was going to create a nursery on the tour bus. For the last nine years, Heidi Longley has worked hard to raise the boy alone in the Chicago suburbs and recently Acey had an idea to create a charity that helped children, in memory of his father. He wanted to give away iTunes gift cards so children could have music while they were in the hospital. And he wanted to give away autographed drumsticks - like the ones he'd been collecting for years - so children who were in pain could pound on drums or pillows to work out frustration, the way he sometimes did.

His mother used connections with Ty Longley's and her own friends in the rock world to secure early donations. Then she helped her son name the charity: B.E.A.T.S. (Bringing Everyone A Tremendous Smile). Members of Great White, VINCE NEIL, STRYPER and SLAUGHTER have donated to the cause.

Read more at Chicagotribune.com.

A description on the B.E.A.T.S. Facebook page reads:

"My name is Acey Longley and I'm 8 years old. I made up this cause B.E.A.T.S. Bringing Everybody A Tremendous Smile to honor the loss of my daddy angel Ty Longley from the band Great White who died before I was born. My dad played guitar and I play drums so music is very important to my family. Music makes people happy and I want to bring happiness to kids who are sick in the hospital. I bring iTunes cards and drumsticks. If I have a tough day I know playing my drums will make me feel better and I hope it makes these kids feel better also. I am currently working with the Ronald McDonald room at Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL. They ROCK!

I accept no money.

Please feel free to send donations to:

Acey Longley

2126 Victoria Lakes Court

Plainfield, IL

60586

I also am the Illinois state representative for Legos For Leukemia IL and collect new boxes of Legos for the kids at Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL."