John Cronin, co-founder and inspiration for John’s Crazy Socks, a company built on spreading happiness and giving back, presented a check for $7,500 to the Special Olympics – New York. “I am a Special Olympics athlete and I love the Special Olympics,” said John upon handing the check to Rebecca Hoffman from the Special Olympics.
John’s co-founder and father, Mark X. Cronin added, “The Special Olympics have been very important in John’s life and to John’s Crazy Socks as many of our employees are or have been Special Olympic athletes. We see the benefits of competing in the Special Olympics and that translates to the workplace. If there were no Special Olympics, John never would have had the confidence and skills to start John’s Crazy Socks.”
John says, “I love training with my teammates, and I love when we get to go to the State Games.”
Current employees and Special Olympic athletes include John, Andrew Oh and John Schneider who compete in soccer, basketball, floor hockey, track and field and snowshoe.
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Special Olympics is New York’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities.
John’s Crazy Socks grew out of John’s love of colorful and fun socks, or what he calls his “crazy socks,” and his desire to make others happy. The fact that this entrepreneur has Down syndrome did not hold him back from pursuing his dream, it inspired him. “I have Down syndrome and Down syndrome never holds me back.”
John’s Crazy Socks donates five percent of earnings to the Special Olympics and raises money for other charity partners through the sale of charity and awareness products like Down Syndrome Awareness Socks and Autism Awareness Socks. John’s Crazy Socks has raised over $300,000 for charity partners like the Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Society, Autism Speaks and the Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of the Autism Society of America.
Mark X. Cronin said “It is not enough to just sell stuff. We have to give back, to acknowledge our good fortune, to help others and to invest in our community.”
John and his co-workers also participate in the Polar Plunge to support the Special Olympics. John’s Crazy Socks sells Polar Plunge Socks that raise money for the Special Olympics.
Over half the employees at John’s Crazy Socks have a differing ability. The business is focused on showing what people with differing abilities can do and they do so through videos they share, hosting school tours and work groups and the speaking engagements that John and Mark give.
To learn more about Special Olympics New York, click here. to learn more about John’s Crazy Socks, visit our website or check out our Giving Back Program.
