The Autism Can Do Scholarship is now accepting applications. The scholarship is co-sponsored by John’s Crazy Socks and the Doug Flutie. Jr Foundation for Autism.

This Autism Can Do Scholarship offers a person with autism in the United States or Canada $5,000 to invest in his or her education. The Autism Can Do Scholarship demonstrates our commitment to showing the world what people with autism can do. 

Past winners include Brandon Cheng of Wilmington, Massachusetts and Garret Nichols, of Clinton, Arkansas.

Showing What’s Possible 

At John’s Crazy Socks, we work every day to show what is possible when you give someone a chance. More than half our employees have a differing ability and many of our colleagues are on the autism spectrum. We see the wonderful work our colleagues perform and we want to share their achievements with the world.  

We sponsor the Autism Can Do Scholarship because we want to encourage people with autism to invest in themselves. We want to encourage efforts people with autism make to further their education.  

John Cronin, the co-founder of John's Crazy Socks, has Down syndrome and he knows what it like for people to underestimate him. He 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.”

 The Autism Can Do Scholarship is part of the Giving Back Program at John’s Crazy Socks. It is never enough to just sell stuff, we all need to give back, to give back to our community, to give back to show appreciation for the good fortune we have received.

John’s co-founder and father, Mark X. Cronin, says, “There are plenty of scholarships for the very top students and for athletes and some of those may be won by people on the autism spectrum. We want this scholarship to shine a bright light on the hard work, accomplishments and talents of people with autism.” 

Qualifications for the Autism Can Do Scholarship

We want to keep things simple. To qualify for this scholarship, a person must meet these criteria: 

• Have autism
• Live in the United States or Canada
• Graduate from high school by August 2021

The Application Process for the Autism Can Do Scholarship

We created a simple application process. You will find the application at the Autism Can Do Scholarship page at the John’s Crazy Socks website. There are four brief sections: 

• A form to enter contact and biographical information
• A brief personal statement – tell us about yourself
• A brief statement of what you would do if you won the scholarship
• Submit a design for a pair of socks

We are a sock company, so it is only natural that we want you to design a sock. We will produce that sock and sell it in our store with proceeds going to support future scholarships. Do not worry. You need not have background in fashion or design to submit a design, only an active imagination. In fact, neither of the first two winners had a background in design. 

What do we look for in a sock design?

• Creativity
• Fun and ability to spread happiness
• Appeal to all genders and ages

What Do You Win with the Autism Can Do Scholarship? 

You will receive a $5,000 scholarship to use to further your education., You can use it to pay tuition at a college or training program. We will make the payment directly to the school. 

We will also produce your socks and give you 10 pairs of the socks to share with family, friends and supporters. 

If logistics and the pandemic allow, we will hold a formal ceremony to celebrate your victory and present you with your socks and scholarship. 

What Do We Ask of the Winners? 

If you win, we ask that you agree to help promote the scholarship and the sock design on social media and that you allow us to share your name and picture as part of those promotions. You give us the rights to your sock design so that we can produce the socks. 

How to Apply for the Autism Can Do Scholarship? 

What are you waiting for? Go to the John’s Crazy Socks website, scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see the link for the Autism Can Do Scholarship. We have created a simple to use, online application. 

Have some fun. Take a chance. Let your creativity flow in designing a sock. Most of all, show us what you can do 

Have questions? Send us an email to scholarship@johnscrazysocks.com.

The Selection Process 

We respect our time and effort. We will carefully review each application process. We create a Selection Committee with representatives from the Doug Flutie. Jr Foundation for Autism and John’s Crazy Socks. The Committee includes people on the autism spectrum.

Each committee member reviews each application. We rate each application and narrow the applications to a final round. We again review each application and select a winner. 

About the 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 is a father-son social enterprise inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colorful and fun socks, or what he calls his “crazy socks.” We're on a mission to spread happiness.

John’s Crazy Socks is a social enterprise with both a social mission and a business mission.  The company is built on four pillars:

• Inspiration and Hope: Showing what is possible when you give a person a chance. 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 William Syndrome Association.
• Products You Can Love: We have over 2,000 different socks plus a Sock of the Month Club, gift boxes and gift bags. We also sell greeting cards, logo t-shirts and hoodies, and household textiles. We match the great products with great service: we do same day shipping so most of our customers receive their socks within a few days of ordering.
• Making It Personal: Every package gets a thank you note from John and some candy.

John’s Crazy Socks is committed to demonstrating what is possible for people of all abilities. The company also has a core value of giving back. It donates 5 percent of earnings to the Special Olympics and donates money from the sale of its Awareness socks collection to designated charities.  Since its founding in December 2016, John’s Crazy Socks has donated more than $425,000 to its charity partners.