Metallica have donated USD$500,000 to relief efforts for the Los Angeles wildfires – find out more below.
Last week, the city of Los Angeles, California was set ablaze by five concurrent wildfires that have caused over 150,000 residents to evacuate their homes. Among the destruction caused by the raging flames are 24 confirmed deaths, 16 missing persons and thousands of destroyed homes, schools and businesses.
Last night (January 13), the metal legends took to social media to announce that they have – through their All Within My Hands Foundation – donated $500,000 to wildfire relief efforts. The sum is being split between two organisations: California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund and the Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund.
In a statement, the band wrote: “In the past week, the community has suffered at least 24 lives lost, nearly 100,000 people under evacuation orders, 40,000 acres burned, and more than 12,000 structures—commercial and residential—destroyed. However, numbers cannot articulate the magnitude of anguish as the disaster upends families and dismantles livelihoods.”
Metallica’s donation comes shortly after it was revealed that Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation has donated $2.5million to relief efforts, while Jamie Lee Curtis has also donated $1million to the cause.
Other celebrities to have pledged support for wildfire relief include Paris Hilton, who launched a fund to help displaced families after watching her own home burn on television. The TV personality has donated $100,000 to help families affected and has also promised to match up to $100,000 in donations.
In other Los Angeles wildfires-related news, a benefit concert for the victims has been announced. Dubbed FireAid, it will take place at LA’s Intuit Dome on January 30, with proceeds going to the rebuild program and to displaced families. No line-up has currently been announced.
Guitar Center has also announced a new program that will help musicians affected by the Los Angeles wildfires replace their instruments or gear.