Lowe’s Foundation rocks with Metallica
The Lowe's Foundation is partnering with Metallica's All Within My Hands and its Metallica Scholars Initiative. The Metallica foundation's nationwide program is receiving a $500,000 donation to expand its support of skilled trades training for community college students as enrollments rise at vocationally focused schools.
The $500,000 donation from the Lowe's Foundation will benefit hundreds of students at five community colleges. The donation will help fund critical training, equipment, recruiting and wraparound services. This complements the Lowe's Foundation's growing roster of Gable Grants recipients, which includes 11 other community colleges. The Associated General Contractors of America report that nearly 90 percent of contractors say they have trouble finding skilled workers, and an estimated half a million new skilled tradespeople will be needed to meet demand in 2024 alone, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors.
"Partnering with programs like the Metallica Scholars Initiative is key to the Lowe's Foundation's efforts to ensure the next generation of builders can meet the demands of our modern world," said Janice Dupré, Lowe's executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe's Foundation. "As we bring our shared goal to life and strengthen the skilled trades pipeline, we're excited to see students unlocking their full potential through these transformative careers."
The investment is the latest in the Lowe's Foundation's five-year, $50 million commitment to support the training of 50,000 people for skilled trades careers. Since 2023, the Lowe's Foundation has awarded approximately $18 million in Gable Grants to 24 organizations offering innovative and scalable skilled trades training across the U.S. The next grant application cycle for community-based nonprofits will run from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31. To learn more about the pressing challenges facing the skilled trades, visit Lowes.com/Foundation.
