Metallica have donated $100,000 to earthquake relief in Venezuela
Metallica’s charitable organisation, All Within My Hands, has donated $100,000 to earthquake relief in Venezuela, after the country was hit by back-to-back magnitude 7+ quakes last week.
On Wednesday, June 24, the South American country was struck by two massive earthquakes in quick succession, registering 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale. While the extent of the destruction hasn’t yet been fully assessed, over 68,000 people were reported missing within three days of the quakes, and the official death toll currently stands at over 2,500.
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As per Blabbermouth, the United Nations reports that up to 6.8 million Venezuelans may be affected – a sizable chunk of the country’s 28.6 million total population. It’s also estimated that almost 60,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
Metallica’s $100,000 donation is going to Direct Relief, which is working with regional and local authorities to deliver emergency aid to those affected and support search-and-rescue operations. Direct Relief is also helping organise first-aid supplies, medicines and other healthcare for those affected by the earthquakes.
First established in 2017, Metallica’s non-profit All Within My Hands Foundation has donated millions to various causes around the world, from disaster relief to music education. To date the charity has provided grants of $19 million to education programmes through the Metallica Scholars Initiative, $8.8 million to food aid and $6.2 million to disaster relief.
The foundation notably donated half a million dollars to disaster relief efforts following the massive wildfires in California last year.
Speaking on Metallica’s own podcast – The Metallica Report – in 2024, the band’s frontman James Hetfield spoke about how much it means to him to be able to help people through All Within My Hands.
“There’s not really a better feeling in this world than helping someone else and doing it without telling [people] about it. There is something fantastic about that. It goes against everything that humans are – ‘I need this. You give me that. I need to take this,’” he said.
“Especially growing up in a band that was struggling, fighting for the only towel in the motel, or whatever it is, or ‘there’s a can of food there. I better get mine or else.’
“Just that sparseness mentality and having that key unlock it to be completely the opposite. Out of everything you’ve learned, despite everything I’ve learned, the corniest saying ‘it’s better to give than receive’ is so true.”
Learn more about the All Within My Hands Foundation.
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