John’s Crazy Socks has introduced a line of Athletic Socks and John Cronin, co-founder and inspiration for John’s Crazy Socks, could not wait to give his soccer teammates a pair of those socks. Saturday at the end of practice for the HBC Special Olympic Soccer Team, John got all his teammates together, thanked them and began handing out the athletic socks.
“I am on a mission to spread happiness and the keys to happiness are gratitude and do for others. It made me so happy to give my socks to my teammates. I love playing soccer with these guys”, said John.
John joined the HBC Soccer Team at age five and has been playing for 22 years. His mother, Carol Cronin, said, “When John first started, the soccer ball was almost bigger than him.”
Under the tutelage of his coaches and with the support of his teammates, John has learned to play soccer and he and his teammates have gotten to be quite good. They compete in tournaments and John has played soccer in the NY Special Olympics State Games on three occasions.
“I learn so much in the Special Olympics,” said John. “I learn teamwork, sportsmanship, how to play the game, how to be coached, how to lose and get back up and play again.”
We often say that without the Special Olympics, John never would have been able to start John’s Crazy Socks.
Custom Socks for Coach Mike
Mike Ludin started the Special Olympics Soccer program in 1979 so his son Craig, who like John, has Down syndrome, could play sports like his older brother. Over the decades, Coach Mike has given hundreds of athletes the opportunity to learn and compete in soccer.
In November 2018, John and John’s Crazy Socks created custom socks to honor Coach Mike Lundin and thank him for his 40 years of making a difference. John gave those out to his teammates. John and his teammates still wear those socks. In fact, John and Akeem wore them on Saturday.
The J’s Athletic Socks at John’s Crazy Socks
John is an athlete so he thought his company should offer athletic socks. He worked with the designers to make cool-looking socks that would feel great. That has led to the creation of our J’s Athletic Socks. They are available as crew and low-cut socks. John loves them and wears them all wherever he goes.
“I wear them when I practice basketball, but I also wear them to work and just walking around town. I love how they feel on my feet,” said John.
John’s Crazy Socks and the Special Olympics
From the first day they opened John’s Crazy Socks in December 2016, John and his partner and father Mark 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.
Our Giving Back Program is an essential way that we express our gratitude and do for others. Giving Back is baked into everything we do. Supporting the Special Olympics is especially important to us. John has donated over $130,000 to Special Olympics New York, more than any other Special Olympic athlete.
“I love the Special Olympics,” said John.
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.
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 $640,000 for charity partners like the Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Society, and the Autism Society of America. Most of all, we 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.
