In a KJACK Live at 4 interview, host Beth speaks with Jay Willis, co‑owner of Mometrix, about the company's annual partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Willis explains that Mometrix, a test‑preparation publisher founded in 2002 that offers study materials for over 2,000 standardized exams, donates 10% of all sales from his Optometrics division to fund neuromuscular research. The initiative is deeply personal: Willis’s son Benjamin was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at 2½ years old. Over the past few years the campaign has raised more than $40,000. Willis directs listeners to mometrics.com/mda, where they can learn Benjamin’s story, purchase study guides, donate directly (even as little as $5), or share the campaign on social media. The interview ends with a repeat of the website and a hopeful note about the upcoming fundraising turnout.
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Still ahead on KJACK Live at 4 o'clock, how a local businessman is hoping his family's story will help raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. A local business is offering a deal this month to donate some of its profits to a charitable cause. Joining me now is Jay Willis of Mometrix. Thank you so much for being here with us today.
Thanks for having me, Beth.
So now, people may not know, what is Mometrix?
So Mometrix started in 2002, and we offer test preparation materials for over 2,000 different standardized exams like SAT, ACT, GED, GRE for graduate school, STAR exams, teacher certification, and we have study guides, flashcards, and practice questions products for those.
So pretty much for everybody who's studying, you have all the, I guess, the needs that they have to have for these tests.
Right, most standardized exams we cover.
Alrighty, and so now for this month you're offering a deal for people who, who make a purchase, some of that money goes to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Right, so for the 5th year in a row, 10% of all the sales that go through my division with of Optometrics go directly to help fund neuromuscular research through MDA.
And this is personal to you because—
Right, so when our son Benjamin was 2 and a half, he was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, which is a form of muscular dystrophy. And so yes, it's very personal.
And so it must mean a lot to you because in, in the last couple of years you've raised over $40,000 to not only help your son but kids who also have this.
Right.
And so it means a lot to you.
Right. Yeah, back in 2011, the owners came to me just wanting to help out in any way that they they could knowing our son's condition, and we just felt like the best way was through research. So that's the money that we raised for this goes directly to help.
Very good. And so for people who need some study guides, I guess, how can they get in touch with you at Mometrix?
So if you visit mometrics.com/mda, you can read about Benjamin's story, and then below that there's a catalog you can visit if you or anybody you know has need for any test preparation material. It's all listed there, or you can donate directly if you don't need any study study materials, you can just donate directly to MDA. There's a spot there for that. Even if it's just $5, I know a lot of, you know, enough contributions of $5 would really go a long way. Or at a minimum, if you visit that site, there's a place you can just share it through social media on Facebook or Twitter.
And that always helps.
Because you never know who might be willing to help.
All right, sounds good. Well, a website one more time for people to log on to?
Yes, mometrics.com/mda.
Very easy. All right, thank you so much for being here with us, and we know you're going to have a great turnout, a lot of money raised this year. Thanks, Vanessa.
