This afternoon, John and Mark X. Cronin, co-founders of John’s Crazy Socks, spoke to staff and clients at the Pike County Development Center in Milford, Pennsylvania. The father-son entrepreneurs inspired the students and offered hope that there are jobs waiting for the students.
John Cronin said, “I have Down syndrome and Down syndrome never holds me back. I want to share with others with differing abilities the possibilities that await them.”
John’s Crazy Socks is a social enterprise dedicated to spreading happiness. A fundamental part of their mission is to show what people with differing abilities can do. More than half their employees have a differing ability and John and Mark Cronin speak to many groups to share their message of inspiration and hope.
Mark X. Cronin said, “We speak to many employers and policy makers to stress that hiring people with differing abilities is good for business. And we meet with students and advocates to demonstrate the opportunities for work. We want these students to know that they can find meaningful work.”
Mark and John recently released their second TEDx talk on this very theme. Entitled, “Hiring People with Differing Abilities is Not Altruism, It is Good Business”, their presentation is gaining viewers and rave reviews and can be seen on YouTube and the TED platform.
Liz Torkelson, who organized the talk for the Pike County Development Center, said, “We loved their talk. It was so moving and so worthwhile for our students to hear.”
The Cronins are in demand as keynote speakers at conferences and business events and have spoken to students at many colleges and universities. They are part of the U.S. State Department’s Speaker’s Bureau and the Speaker’s Bureau for The Society of Human Resource Management.
John said, “I love speaking to spread hope and happiness and to show what is possible."
As part of their mission, the Cronins devote themselves to advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. They have testified twice before Congress and spoken at the United Nations. They are part of the CEO Commission on Disability Employment and the Autism@Work Employer Roundtable. They have been the featured speakers at in-person events across the U.S., Canada and Mexico and spoken at virtual events on five continents. They have addressed corporate events with Microsoft, EY, Bank of America, IBM and Campbells as well as spoken at conferences for entrepreneurs and social service agencies serving the disabled population. They are also winners of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award and frequent guests on national and regional news and television shows. They leave audiences smiling and wiping away tears as they share their inspirational story, entrepreneurial adventure and love between a father and son.
You can learn more about John and Mark’s speaking engagements by clicking here.
About John’s Crazy Socks
John’s Crazy Socks was inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colorful and fun socks—what he calls his “crazy socks.” He and his father, Mark X. Cronin, started the company as a social enterprise with a mission of Spreading Happiness™. They do this by offering socks people can love that allows an expression of one’s true self. More than half their employees have a differing ability, their Giving Back program has raised over $450,000 for charity partners like the Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Society, and the Autism Society of America. Most of all, they are Spreading Happiness™.
For more information about John’s Crazy Socks, visit our webpage, Facebook page, Instagram account or YouTube channel. You can also contact us at 631-760-5625 or via email at service@johnscrazysocks.com.
