John Cronin believes in Giving Back, and that is more than simply writing out checks. Giving Back is at the heart of John’s Crazy Socks. Last night, John gave back to the Special Olympics in a fun, adventurous way that was classic John.
He donned his red, white, and blue bathing suit, pulled on his favorite t-shirt, took off his socks so he could wear his water shoes, and climbed atop the ledge in the dunk tank at the Huntington Summer in the Streets festival. For the next half hour, people donated money to throw softballs at the target to drop John into the dunk tank.
With his father, Mark, acting like a carnival barker, John drew a crowd of women, men, and children who lined up to take a shot. Each throw raised money for the Special Olympics. Initially, John admitted that he was nervous and anxious. "I was a little scared."
After the first time he dropped into the tank, John lost any fear and relished the sheer joy of the event. He called out to people, asking them to take a shot. He laughed and talked with passers-by and then held his nose and closed his eyes as he got dropped into the dunk tank time and time again.
Why Would a Man Enter the Dunk Tank
Why do this? John is always up for a new adventure and is always up for some fun. And John is involved in his local community. The Huntington Chamber of Commerce sponsored the "Summer in the Streets" event. John is active with the Chamber and several other local organizations. He believes it is important to be an active member of the community.
And John wanted to find another way to give back to the Special Olympics. John is a Special Olympics athlete. He plays soccer, basketball, snowshoe, and track and field. With the support and coaching of his brother Jamie, John will soon join the bocce team. John loves the Special Olympics, and it has been essential in his life. When John heard that people entering the dunk tank could choose their charity, he immediately said, "Let's do it for the Special Olympics."
Summer in the Streets
Summer in the Streets is a street fair held three Thursdays in the summer in Huntington Village. Wall Street becomes a pedestrian mall lined with craft offerings, food stalls, games, and more. This year, each night features a fashion show and a culinary taste contest among Village restaurants. Many of the restaurants and taverns in the Village offer specials to complement Summer in the Streets.
The event attracts people from throughout the Town of Huntington and all of Long Island.
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 a vital 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, our mission is 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. We have donated over $800,000 to our charity partners thanks to the support of our customers. Supporting the Special Olympics is especially important to us. 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. We donate 10 percent of thesales 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 of their employees have a differing ability, and their Giving Back program has raised over $800,000 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 orYouTube channel. You can also contact us at 631-760-5625 or via email at service@johnscrazysocks.com.
