On Thursday (April 2), Metallica‘s charitable All Within My Hands foundation announced four grants totaling $350,000 to organizations working to help those affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The grants will go to Feeding America ($100,000), whose recently launched COVID-19 Response Fund is working with local food banks to support people facing hunger, as well as coordinating with government to support federal nutrition programs such as the School Lunch Program. The latter ensures that the 22 million children who rely on school meals have access to food and distributing emergency food boxes to food banks across the country.
Their $100,000 pledge to Direct Relief will help ensure vitally important personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health care workers, including masks, exam gloves and isolation gowns, while a third $100,00 pledge will support Live Nation’s Crew Nation initiative to help the touring and venue crews who toil behind the scenes. Live Nation have committed $10 million to the initiative, contributing an initial $5 million to the fund, then matching the next $5 million donated by artists, fans and employees.
The final $50,000 pledge is earmarked for the USBG National Charity Foundation, which will assist qualified bartenders, bar backs and bar servers in need of financial assistance as part of the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program.
The band also reminded fans of its weekly “Metallica Mondays” streaming series, during which they broadcast a full concert from their archives at 5 p.m. PST every Monday. Donations to AWMH from fans who’ve tuned in have already raised $15,000 to support those impacted by COVID-19.
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