Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
All Within My Hands (AWMH), the non-profit, philanthropic organization formed by the musicians and management of Metallica, has announced the eighth year of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) with its highest gift to date: over $3.3 million, as per Blabbermouth. In the autumn, eighteen new U.S. schools will become part of the MSI community; three will get $50,000 for specific new equipment acquisitions, and fifteen will receive $75,000 to improve the student experience within professional and technical education programs. With a $250,000/£186,000 contribution to create the Metallica Scholars Initiative in the UK in collaboration with Capital City College Group (CCC), the Foundation is also beginning its first international workforce initiative.
This thing started as a dream. Now our program is changing lives. To expand our impact on a global scale and support even more students is so rewarding. We’re so proud of all the Metallica Scholars who have come through it and all the ones who will participate in it. It’s humbling to know we’ve been part of the journey of thousands of trade professionals doing good, hard work in the world. – James Hetfield
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), AWMH’s longstanding partner, and AWMH continue to collaborate closely. All Within My Hands founded MSI in 2019 with the primary goal of assisting traditional trades, such as electricians, plumbers, and welders, while also incorporating industries that would provide jobs in the future. The workforce effort is still developing, offering a variety of sectors for students who want to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to pursue fulfilling occupations that pay enough to support their families. Nursing and healthcare, optical systems technology, automobile repair, maritime manufacturing, firefighting and EMT, pipefitting, and agricultural routes are just a few of the many subjects covered in Year 8.
The continued growth of the Metallica Scholars Initiative is a powerful testament to what’s possible when visionary philanthropy and community colleges come together around a shared mission. Through this partnership, 13,000 community college students have already been supported across the country, earning the skills needed for in-demand careers with family-sustaining wages. This latest, generous investment by METALLICA’s foundation will reach more learners while strengthening the workforce pipelines that power local economies. We are proud to partner with All Within My Hands to scale this impact, ensuring even more students have access to life-changing opportunities in the skilled trades and beyond. – Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, president and CEO, AACC
Metallica Scholars Year 8 will see our largest-scale growth yet, as we anticipate supporting close to 4,000 new students in the United States and more than 1,000 learners in the U.K. for a total of 5,000 across the program! This represents an approximate 40% increase in our student body, something we are incredibly excited about. Supporting people of all ages entering and ascending through trades is the right thing to do, not just domestically, but also abroad. Our Metallica Scholars have demonstrated resilience and a strong determination to succeed, which in turn motivates us to match their ambition. – Peter Delgrosso, executive director, AWMH
Newly added Metallica Scholar colleges:
Barton Community College – Great Bend, KS
Berkshire Community College – Pittsfield, MA
Central Maine Community College – Auburn, ME
Delaware County Community College – Media, PA
Dutchess Community College – Poughkeepsie, NY
Fletcher Technical Community College – Schriever, LA
Lake Region State College – Devils Lake, ND
Metropolitan Community College – Kansas City, MO
Monroe Community College – Rochester, NY
Moraine Valley Community College – Palos Hills, IL
North Central State College – Mansfield, OH
Northeast State Community College – Blountville, TN
Northwest Mississippi Community College – Senatobia, MS
Raritan Valley Community College – Branchburg, NJ
Riverside City College – Riverside, CA
South Texas College – McAllen, TX
Trident Technical College – North Charleston, SC
William Rainey Harper College – Palatine, IL
