John traveled to Chicago to join the annual conference for the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics. John met with attendees, traded stories, found ways to offer more support for their cause and brought his Law Enforcement Torch Run® Socks which were a hit at the conference.
“I met people from around the world,” said John. “They came from across the United States and Canada and as far away as Australia, Germany and the Cayman Islands. And I met a lot of Special Olympic athletes. It was a lot of fun.”
John Comes Bearing Socks
Together with his parents, John set up a vendor table so the conference attendees could pick up their own pair of socks. While John’s Crazy Socks offers more than 4,000 socks, John brought three socks to the conference:
- Law Enforcement Torch Run® Socks
- The new Special Olympic Athletic Crew Socks
- Police Tribute Socks (Part of our First Responder Series)
The socks were a hit, attendees grabbing so many that they sold out at the Conference. As part of our Giving Back program, John’s Crazy Socks donates 10 percent from the Police Tribute Socks to the Nassau County PAL and 10 percent from the Torch Run and Special Olympic Socks to the Special Olympics.
Law Enforcement Torch Run® Socks
The stylish athletic crew socks are black with blue accents and carry the logo of the Law Enforcement Torch Run®. Made of a special blend of cotton and synthetic fabrics, these socks are incredibly comfortable. They are available in medium and large at the John’s Crazy Socks website.
About the Law Enforcement Torch Run®
Back in June 1981, six police officers from Wichita, Kansas carried a torch into a high school to kick off a Special Olympics event and that started a movement that today involves more than 100,000 members of law enforcement each year. The LETR for Special Olympics engages law enforcement worldwide championing acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, starting first with their own communities. Over the years the Torch Run has evolved and now encompasses a variety of innovative fundraising platforms to include Plane Pull®, Polar Plunge®, Tip-A-Cop®, and more.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is the largest public awareness vehicle and grass-roots fundraiser for Special Olympics. Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the Flame of Hope into the Opening Ceremony of local competitions, and into Special Olympics State, Provincial, National, Regional and World Games. You can learn more at their website: https://www.letr.org.
John’s Crazy Socks and the Special Olympics
John joined the Special Olympics at age five and continues twenty-two years later to participate in soccer, basketball, track and field, and snowshoe. And he does the Polar Plunge each year for the Special Olympics. Many of John’s colleagues at John’s Crazy Socks are Special Olympics athletes and several others have served as coaches.
Because John is so grateful for the Special Olympics, he has 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 $150,000 to Special Olympics New York, more than any other Special Olympics 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 $650,000 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.
