John’s Crazy Socks is now accepting applications for its Autism Can Do Scholarship. This year, the Doug Flutie. Jr Foundation for Autism is co-sponsoring the Autism Can Do Scholarship.
The program will present a $5,000 scholarship to a person on the autism spectrum in the United States to use at a college or trade school. Applications will be accepted from April 13, 2020 until June 15, 2020. Applicants must complete a brief form, submit a brief personal statement and design a pair of socks. The application can be found at the scholarship page at the John’s Crazy Socks website. The winner will be announced on July 15, 2020.
John Cronin, a young man with Down Syndrome who founded John’s Crazy Socks with his Dad, says, “We want this scholarship to show the world what people with autism can do and we want to help people make their dreams come true.”
Nick Savarese, Executive Director of the Flutie Foundation, said, “We are excited to co-sponsor this scholarship. We know what people with autism can achieve and we want to help others to reach their fullest potential.”
John added, “We are so happy that the Doug Flutie. Jr Foundation for Autism will join us this year because they have a mission to help people and families affected by autism live life to the fullest.”
John’s Crazy Socks is a social enterprise that works every day to show what people with differing abilities can accomplish. More than half of their employees have a differing ability and many are on the autism spectrum.
“We see our colleagues on the autism spectrum perform extraordinary work every day,” says John’s co-founder and father, Mark X. Cronin. “We sponsor this scholarship to celebrate those achievements.”
Garret Nichols, 19, of Clinton, Arkansas won the first “Autism Can Do Scholarship in 2019. He designed a pair of socks with computer motherboards to reflect his interest in technology. Garret used the scholarship to attend the Inclusion Films School, a program founded by Joey Travolta that teaches filmmaking to people with developmental disabilities.
To enter the competition for the scholarship, a person must complete a brief application, provide a brief statement and submit a sock design. Applicants need not have a background in fashion or design to submit a design, only an active imagination.
To learn more and to find and submit the application go to the Autism Can Do Scholarship page at the John’s Crazy Socks website.
Doug Flutie. Jr Foundation for Autism
The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism has a mission to help people and families affected by autism live life to the fullest. The Foundation wants to create a world where people with autism lead productive lives where they are included, respected, and actively engaged in their communities.
Flutie Foundation programs and activities improve the quality of everyday life for people and families affected by autism along seven key dimensions that are critical to living each day fully. They aim to provide a path for education and/or employment during the day; opportunities for physical and social activity outside of work/school; and the tools to be safe, supported, and informed at all times.
To learn more about the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism please visit their website www.flutiefoundation.org.
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 built on four pillars:
- Inspiration and Hope: We hire people with differing abilities, share videos to show what people can do, host school tours and school groups that come for work experience. We want the world to see what people with differing abilities can do.
- Giving Back: We donate 5 percent of our earnings to the Special Olympics and raise money through our Sock of the Month Club and charity and awareness socks for our charity partners like Autism Speaks, the Autism Society of America, the National Down Syndrome Society, and the Williams Syndrome Association. We have raised more than $325,000 for our charity partners and publish a monthly Giving Back Report.
- Socks You Can Love: We have over 2,000 different socks plus a Sock of the Month Club, gift boxes and gift bags. And our selection is matched by our customer service: Most customers receive their socks within two days of ordering.
- Making It Personal: Every package gets a thank-you note from John and some candy.
For more information, visit our webpage, Facebook page, Instagram account or YouTube channel. You can also contact us at 631-760-5625 or via email at service@johnscrazysocks.com.
