Metallica foundation rocks CGCC workforce training program with 6th year of support
File Photo - Instructor Robert Wells Clark and Metalica Scholar Miller Nobrega chat with Jan Peterson-Terjeson about a fundraising project utilizing steel flowers made at the CGCC Regional Skills Center in The Dalles.
From Columbia Gorge Community College with edits by Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., July 7, 2026 — One of the biggest names in heavy metal is once again investing in the future of the Columbia Gorge workforce.
Columbia Gorge Community College has been selected for an eighth year in the Metallica Scholars Initiative, a national workforce development program created by Metallica's charitable foundation, All Within My Hands. The latest round of funding will help students enrolled in the college's advanced manufacturing, aviation maintenance, construction technology and electro-mechanical technology programs prepare for high-demand careers in the skilled trades.
CGCC is one of 75 returning colleges nationwide participating in the initiative and has received nearly $200,000 through the program since joining six years ago. The funding provides tuition assistance, tools, safety equipment and other support services designed to help students complete their training and enter the workforce.
Dr. Kenneth Lawson
"The Metallica Scholars Initiative has been a game-changer for our students and our region," CGCC President Dr. Kenneth Lawson said. "With the continued support of All Within My Hands and the American Association of Community Colleges, we can reduce financial barriers, put professional-grade tools directly into our students' hands, and help more learners complete high-skill, high-wage programs that keep the Columbia Gorge workforce strong."
Metallica's foundation announced more than $3.3 million in grants for the initiative's eighth year, the program's largest investment to date. Eighteen new colleges are joining the program this fall, bringing the total to 93 participating institutions across the United States. The initiative also will expand internationally for the first time through a partnership with a college system in London.
Metallica has sold a few albums in their day, last count was around 150 million.
"This thing started as a dream. Now our program is changing lives," Metallica frontman James Hetfield said in a statement. "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."
Launched in 2019, the Metallica Scholars Initiative focuses on career and technical education programs that address workforce shortages. While it initially emphasized traditional trades such as welding, plumbing and electrical work, the program has expanded to include fields such as healthcare, automotive repair, firefighting, agricultural technology, maritime manufacturing and other emerging industries.
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, which administers the program alongside All Within My Hands, more than 13,000 community college students have benefited from the initiative nationwide.
The Metallica Scholars Initiative is funded through All Within My Hands, the nonprofit organization established by the members and management of Metallica in 2017. The foundation supports workforce education, food insecurity programs, disaster relief and other community initiatives. Since launching the scholarship program, the foundation has awarded $19 million to career and technical education programs across the United States.
For a complete list of all 93 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.
About Columbia Gorge Community College
Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) is a public, two-year, accredited institution serving Oregon and Washington residents in the Mid-Columbia region. As the only college located in this rural area, CGCC offers transfer degrees, short-term certificates, and high-demand career and technical education programs in fields such as nursing, electro-mechanical technology, construction technology, and advanced manufacturing, with classes in The Dalles, Hood River, and online.
About All Within My Hands
Established in 2017, 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. Metallica covers all administrative costs, so 100% of donations go directly to the organizations supported by the Foundation. To date, All Within My Hands has provided grants of $19M to career and technical education programs through its Metallica Scholars Initiative, $8.8M to combat food insecurity, and $6.2M to disaster relief and other critical local services worldwide. Visit AllWithinMyHands.org to learn more. And follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About American Association of Community Colleges
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/
