How Metallica’s All Within My Hands Is Supporting Earthquake Recovery in Venezuela

As communities in Venezuela recover from the devastating earthquakes that struck the country's northern coast in June, a $100,000 grant from Metallica's foundation, All Within My Hands, is helping Direct Relief provide requested medicines, medical supplies, and emergency funding as health needs continue to evolve.

The grant adds to an outpouring of private support for the response, including contributions from people in 82 countries. Because Direct Relief does not accept government funding, the response is made possible through private generosity from individuals and longstanding partners such as All Within My Hands.

In the weeks since the earthquakes struck, Direct Relief has provided more than $3.9 million in medicines and medical supplies and $450,000 in financial assistance for local healthcare organizations, first responders, and other frontline partners serving affected communities.

"Strong partnerships are at the heart of everything Direct Relief does," said Jennifer Lotito, chief external affairs officer at Direct Relief. "For nearly a decade, All Within My Hands has stood with communities facing disasters and health emergencies around the world. Their support helps healthcare providers and responders deliver critical care and resources when people need them most, including during the long recovery that follows a disaster."

Medical Needs Shift as Recovery Continues

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, Direct Relief supported the deployment of Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras, a Spain-based search-and-rescue organization.

Direct Relief also helped fund a mobile medical team from Mexico and Colombia to assist affected communities.

As search-and-rescue operations gave way to recovery, the medical response broadened to include preventing infections, treating wounds, maintaining access to essential health services, and helping people with chronic conditions continue receiving care.

To help meet these needs, Direct Relief has shipped requested medicines and medical supplies to healthcare partners in Venezuela. The deliveries have included antibiotics, oral rehydration solutions, water purification supplies, wound care products, and medications for hypertension, asthma, mental health disorders, and other chronic conditions.

Maintaining access to routine treatment can become especially difficult after a disaster damages health facilities and disrupts transportation, power, and medical supply chains. With recovery underway, Direct Relief continues working with partners in Venezuela to meet new requests and help maintain access to essential care.

Nearly a Decade of Supporting Communities in Crisis

All Within My Hands began working with Direct Relief in 2017, the year the foundation was established, supporting responses to devastating earthquakes in Mexico and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Since then, the foundation has contributed nearly $895,000 to Direct Relief's disaster response, emergency preparedness, and humanitarian health work.

That support has helped Direct Relief respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Haiti earthquake, Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, catastrophic flooding in Brazil, and severe storms and flooding in Texas.

The foundation has also invested in Direct Relief's emergency preparedness work across the United States, helping healthcare organizations maintain essential services during disasters.

The partnership represents one part of All Within My Hands' broader philanthropic commitment. Since 2017, the foundation has provided $19 million to career and technical education programs through its Metallica Scholars Initiative, $8.8 million to combat food insecurity, and $6 million for disaster relief worldwide. Metallica covers the foundation's administrative expenses, allowing all public donations to go directly to the organizations it supports.

The latest grant carries that commitment forward in Venezuela, helping Direct Relief address immediate health needs and remain engaged through the longer work of restoring access to care and supporting recovery.