The Town of Huntington honored John’s Crazy Socks for their work in employing and advocating for people with differing abilities and for their philanthropic work. Prior to the Town Board meeting, Councilmember Sal Ferro led a ceremony that presented a proclamation not only to John and Mark X. Cronin, the co-founders of John’s Crazy Socks, but to all their colleagues in attendance.
Councilmember Ferro said, “I am happy to present this proclamation to the amazing team at John’s Crazy Socks. They have shown what is possible when one is given a chance. The many employees at John's Crazy Socks have demonstrated the great things people with differing abilities can do when given the opportunity. Their philanthropic efforts are abundant and have had a positive impact on society.”
The award took place during National Disability Awareness Month. More than half of the employees at John’s Crazy Socks have a differing ability and the Town wanted to highlight the ability of all people to work and contribute to our society.
At the ceremony, John Cronin said, “Thank you for this recognition. Most importantly, thank you for recognizing the work of my colleagues. They work so hard and do such great work.”
Mark X. Cronin added, “We are grateful for this proclamation. We are especially grateful that you have included our colleagues because they are the ones who make all we do possible. Without our colleagues, we would be lost.”
Receiving the Proclamation
Before making their way to Huntington Town Hall, the John’s Crazy Socks team met at Rosa’s Pizza for pizza and to celebrate the occasion.
All five Huntington Town Board members (Supervisor Edmund Smyth, Councilmember Eugene Cook, Councilmember Joan Cergol, Councilmember Salvatore Ferro and Councilmember Dr. Dave Bennardo) participated in the ceremony and signed the proclamation.
In introducing the event, Councilmember Ferro joked about having last seen John at the Special Olympics Polar Plunge in Huntington and how he was still trying to get warm. John laughed and said he could not wait to do more Polar Plunges.
Masoom Syed, a Sock Wrangler at John’s Crazy Socks, received his personal proclamation and said, “This makes me feel so happy.”
After reading the proclamation, everyone gathered for photographs to celebrate the day.
Deep Roots in the Town of Huntington
Both the business of John’s Crazy Socks and the Cronin family have deep roots in Huntington. Mark had grown up in Huntington and the family has lived in the Town since 1997. And John’s Crazy Socks opened for business in Huntington in December 2016. Many of our employees live in Huntington and many are graduates of Huntington area high schools including Huntington, Half Hollow Hills (East and West), Wilson Tech and Walt Whitman High Schools.
John attended Huntington High School and entered his last year of school in the fall of 2016. Unable to find meaningful work, John decided to create his own job. He told his father that they should go into business together. John had the idea to sell socks since he wore crazy sock his whole life. “They are fun, colorful, creative and always let me be me.”
John and Mark found temporary office space in Huntington Village which is where John’s Crazy Socks began. As business grew, they relocated to a warehouse and office space in Melville in the southern part of the Town.
The first location of John's Crazy Socks:
While they have recently moved into larger space a mile from their second location, the firm maintains its roots in Huntington. The Cronin family lives in Huntington Village and are active in community affairs. Mark is on the board of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. They continue to work with area high schools to promote employment for people with differing abilities.
John’s Crazy Socks has an extensive Giving Back program that starts with a pledge of five percent of earnings to the Special Olympics. They have created numerous awareness and tribute socks to celebrate causes and raise money for those causes. John has designed EMT Tribute Socks and donates 10 percent from the sale of those socks to the Huntington Community First Aid Squad (HCFAS).
The Proclamation from the Town of Huntington
The Town Board issued one Proclamation for John’s Crazy Socks and John and Mark X. Cronin. They also issued individual documents for each member of the John’s Crazy Socks team in attendance. The document read, in part,
Whereas: John and Mark X. Cronin have shown what is possible when one is given a chance. The many employees at John’s Crazy Socks have demonstrated the great things people with differing abilities can do when given the opportunity; and
Whereas: John and Mark X. Cronin’s philanthropic efforts are abundant and have had a positive impact on society; and
Whereas: John and Mark X. Cronin have demonstrated the many possibilities available to those with the vision and a dream. John shows what people with differing abilities can do as do his colleagues with more than half his colleagues having differing abilities; and
Whereas: The Town of Huntington wishes to honor John and Mark Cronin during Disabilities Awareness Month for all they do to inspire and help people succeed and truly giving back to the community through all their charitable acts.
Now, therefore, we the Town Board of the Town of Huntington on behalf of the residents present this special proclamation to John and Mark X. Cronin and all of John’s Crazy Socks in recognition of their social mission which has led to the extensive and continued success of John’s Crazy Socks.
The individual proclamations recognized each employee for his or her “ability to spread happiness in a wonderful work environment” and “for inspiring people and helping them succeed while also giving back to the community. You are an example of the many possibilities available to those with a passion and a dream.”
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 $550,000 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 or YouTube channel. You can also contact us at 631-760-5625 or via email at service@johnscrazysocks.com.
