All Within My Hands (AWMH), the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, proudly announces Year 7 of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) with its largest grant to date, totaling approximately $3M. Fifteen new schools will join our MSI community in the fall, with each new school receiving $75,000 to enhance the student experience within career and technical education programs. The Metallica Scholars Initiative now has a presence in 75 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam, and is expected to reach approximately 10,000 students. AWMH continues to work closely with its long-time partner, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), on the Initiative.
“I could not be any prouder of our Metallica Scholars. We know that our country needs millions of skilled tradespeople, and it warms my heart to know that our Foundation’s efforts are making a positive impact and putting hard-working people on the path to careers in the trades. Whether it’s a school visit or a meet and greet before a show, there is no better feeling than meeting our Metallica Scholars in person and hearing their stories of grit and determination firsthand, along with their pride and commitment. It is truly inspiring. To think we started with a few schools and a couple hundred students, and we’re now in 75 schools nationwide, about to reach 10,000 students. It’s just incredible.” – Robert Trujillo
Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges, MSI began with 10 colleges focused primarily on Manufacturing programs. The workforce initiative has since expanded to offer opportunities in diverse fields for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages. Additional curricula in Year 7 include Air Traffic Control, Agricultural Technologies, Fire Technologies, and AI, coupled with conventional trades such as Construction, Welding, Commercial Driving Licensing, and Advanced Manufacturing. To date, AWMH has invested over $13.5M in the American workforce.
To evaluate the program’s efficacy, the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy independently researched and quantified MSI’s impact on the skilled trades and the return on investment (ROI) earlier this year. The research extended into all Year 6 community colleges, covering more than 350 fields of study at these institutions, measuring the cost of completion and anticipated salaries post-graduation. The key observation is that the ROI – the ratio of a program’s cost to anticipated median wage – across all MSI-supported programs is a very high and cost-efficient 8.3X. This means that on average, MSI graduates can expect to earn 8.3X the upfront cost of their program during their first year in the workforce. Additionally, the research identified some of the fastest-growing and highest-paying fields of study that Metallica Scholars can pursue to achieve lucrative careers in the trades. Among the former are Information Security Analysts, Software Developers, and Occupational Therapy Assistants, while the latter includes Robotics and Mechatronics, Dental Hygienists, and Air Traffic Controllers.
“2025 is a watershed moment for the Metallica Scholars Initiative,” stated Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director, All Within My Hands. “With the addition of 15 new schools this fall and USC’s independent research articulating the strength of our results, we are eager to tackle the quantifiable shortage of skilled labor our nation faces. If we extrapolate these ROI numbers over a career, it demonstrates how effective and profitable learning a trade can be for the individual, and how society as a whole also benefits from community college graduates. This insight will profoundly affect MSI going forward, impacting how people view careers in the trades, encouraging more corporate and individual sponsorship, and driving its advancement across the country. We’re thrilled to incorporate these findings into this year’s planning and expansion.”
Year 7 also marks the renewal of our partnership with the Lowe’s Foundation, which has provided $1 million in support as part of its five-year, $50 million commitment to prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.
It takes a village to achieve these results, including the continued support from many of our long-time corporate partners, notably workwear manufacturers Carhartt, Wolverine, and our newest partner, CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment. In addition to our corporate partners, we would like to thank our executive and advisory board members and, of course, the Metallica Family, who have staunchly supported AWMH from day one and worked tirelessly to advance our mission.
Newly Added Metallica Scholar Colleges:
- Allan Hancock College – Santa Maria, CA
- Atlantic Cape Community College – Mays Landing, NJ
- Chattahoochee Valley Community College – Phenix City, AL
- College of Southern Idaho – Twin Falls, ID
- Community College of Beaver County – Monaca, PA
- De Anza College – Cupertino, CA
- Eastern New Mexico University–Ruidoso – Ruidoso, NM
- Ivy Tech Community College Columbus – Columbus, IN
- Laramie County Community College – Cheyenne, WY
- Leeward Community College – Pearl City, HI
- Mott Community College – Flint, MI
- Northeast Community College – Norfolk, NE
- Northland Pioneer College – Holbrook, AZ
- Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College – Orangeburg, SC
- Salish Kootenai College – Pablo, MT
For a complete list of all 75 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars
About All Within My Hands
All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a non-profit, philanthropic organization conceived by the members and management of Metallica and dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. 100% of donations go directly to local organizations that the Foundation supports. To date, All Within My Hands’ collective efforts have granted over $25M— providing $13.5M in grants to career and technical education programs, over $7.5M to combat food insecurity, and more than $5M to disaster relief efforts. To learn more about All Within My Hands, visit AllWithinMyHands.org and follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About AACC
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all https://www.aacc.nche.edu/
