After finishing his Special Olympic soccer practice on Saturday, John Cronin, co-founder of John’s Crazy Socks, travelled to join his colleagues at the Third Annual Long Island Autism Acceptance at the Bohemia Fire Department. John and his colleagues met with families to show their support for the autism community.
“This fair is a fun event,” said John Cronin. “I love meeting so many people and playing some of the games. We brought games too that people could enjoy at the John Crazy Socks table.”
The Autism Celebration was organized and sponsored by local elected officials. Many of them came out to join the festivities. Councilman James P. O’Connor wore John’s Unity Socks, and John met up with longtime friends and supporters Congressman Andrew Garbarino and New York State Assembly Member, Jarett Gandolfo. John also met State Assemblyman Doug Smith.
John said, “It is important to see so many elected officials supporting people with autism.”
John and Mark had recently met with Congressman Garbarino to thank him for his support of the Down syndrome community. John and Mark had recently spoken to the Sachem SEPTA in Assemblyman Smith’s district. And last year, they met with Assemblyman Gandolfo at his office in Albany as part of a World Down Syndrome Day celebration.
During the fair, John and his colleagues met with individuals and families. They arranged to speak with a local Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) as they are frequent guest speakers and enjoy meeting with families of people with differing abilities.
“Attending and supporting events like this is important to John’s Crazy Socks,” said John’s co-founder and father, Mark X. Cronin.
John’s Crazy Socks Shows What People with Autism Can Do
At John’s Crazy Socks has a mission to spread happiness. An essential part of that mission is to create employment for people with differing abilities, including people with autism. More than half the employees at John’s Crazy Socks have a differing ability and many are on the autism spectrum.
“It is not enough to hire people with autism,” said Mark X. Cronin, “we want to show the world what our colleagues can do.” To encourage students, John’s Crazy Socks hosts tours so students and others can see the work performed here. We host work groups so students and social service clients can gain experience in the workplace. John and Mark speak at schools to encourage students and show what is possible for them.
And we engage in advocacy work, standing up for the rights of people with differing abilities and people with autism. John and Mark are frequent keynote speakers at conferences and corporate events. And they bring their message to colleges and universities. John and Mark have testified twice before the U.S. Congress, including an appearance alongside the Autism Society of America. And the company is a member of the CEO Commission for Disability Employment and the Neurodiversity @Work Business Roundtable.
Giving Back to Support People with Autism
John’s Crazy Socks has created a line of socks and other products that give back to the Autism Society of America. We donate 10 percent from the sale of those products to the Nassau Suffolk Chapter of the Autism Society of America.
“I love our Autism Awareness Socks,” said John. “They are so beautiful and so comfortable.”
John’s Crazy Socks sponsors an annual “Autism Can Do Scholarship” that gives a top prize of $5,000 to a person with autism to advance his or her education. The John’s Crazy Socks Giving Back Program has now donated over $600,000 to our charity partners.
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 $600,000 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.
