On bright Saturday morning, Special Olympics athletes from all across Long Island came together at Plainedge High School in Massapequa for the annual Spring Games. John Cronin, co-founder and Chief Happiness Officer of John’s Crazy Socks, and his colleague, Andrew Oh, were among the hundreds of competitors.
“I love the Special Olympics and I love the spring games,” said John.
Training and Competition
People sometimes have a misunderstanding about the Special Olympics. They are all about training and competition. John and Andrew spent months training for the Spring Games with the team, the Commack Sharks. That meant hours of instruction and workouts starting in the gym and moving outside to the track when the weather allowed.
They were well-prepared for the meet on Saturday. John hurled the Turbo Javelin (a giant Nerf dart) and Andrew earned a bronze medal in the softball toss. On the track, Andrew won a Gold Medal in the 100-meter dash and John brought home a hard-earned bronze medal. They ended the day competing in the 4 X 100 relay. Both athletes earned bronze medals in that event.
Andrew said, “I just go out there and run.”
John’s Crazy Socks and the Special Olympics
From the day they opened John’s Crazy Socks, John and his co-founder and father, Mark X. Cronin, have made giving back to the Special Olympics an important part of the John’s Crazy Socks experience. Our customers know that when they buy from us, they support the Special Olympics.
At John’s Crazy Socks, we have a mission to spread happiness. John says the keys to happiness are gratitude and doing for others. Thus, our Giving Back Program is an essential part of our mission. Supporting the Special Olympics is especially important to us. In fact, John’s Crazy Socks has donated over $150,000 to Special Olympics New York.
We start by donating 5 percent of our earnings to the Special Olympics. John’s Crazy Socks donates 5 percent from the sale of our Sock of the Month Club to the Special Olympics. And we donate 10 percent from the sale of our Polar Plunge Socks and Shark Socks to the Special Olympics. John designed Shark Socks in honor of his basketball and track team, the Commack Sharks.
John’s Crazy Socks is a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness. Started by John Cronin and his father, Mark X. Cronin, John’s Crazy Socks is now the world’s largest sock store. Every day, they show what people with differing abilities can accomplish.
About Special Olympics New York
Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 51,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with about 250 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families, or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.
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™. With more than 4,000 socks, John’s Crazy Socks is now the world’s largest sock store. More than half their employees have a differing ability, and their Giving Back program has raised over $750,000 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, TikTok or YouTube channel. You can also contact us at 631-760-5625 or via email at service@johnscrazysocks.com.
