Metallica donates $100K to college
A college education is apparently very rock ’n roll — at least that’s what Metallica has shown with a donation to Lone Star College.
The legendary heavy metal band has awarded $100,000 to the community college system to help students find new careers in health care, transportation, oil and gas, and mechatronics, which involves engineering of both mechanical and electrical systems.
Metallica’s investment in the community “will pay off for years to come,” a Lone Star spokeswoman said.
“We are extremely grateful for Metallica’s support,” Linda Leto Head, the college’s senior associate vice chancellor of external and employer relations. said in a written statement. “This grant supports job skill training that is relevant and very much in need.”
Provided by the band’s foundation All Within My Hands in partnership American Association of Community Colleges, the award is a part of a $1 million Metallica Scholars Grant that will be distributed to 10 community colleges around the country. The award will help more than 1,000 students obtain the essential training and help entering the workforce and can also assist in “wraparound services,” like day care, work uniforms and drug and alcohol testing for students who need assistance.
“All of us in the band feel fortunate that music has provided us the opportunity to be successful doing something we are passionate about,” said Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich in a written statement. “We want to share our success with others so that they can find a job where they can do the same.”
A look at the band’s Twitter feed, and it’s obvious that the “Nothing Else Matters” group is no stranger to giving back. The band’s foundation hosted its second annual “Day of Service” earlier this week. More than 3,000 volunteers in about 50 food banks and locations around the country helped pack food at and distribute it to those in need.