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™. They do this by offering socks people can love that allows an expression of one’s true self. More than half their employees have a differing ability and their Giving Back program has raised over $475,000 for charity partners like the Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Society, and the Autism Society of America.
In five years, they bootstrapped their start up into the world’s largest sock store with multi-million-dollar sales in 88 nations and over 4,000 sock choices. John may have Down syndrome, but he always says, “Down syndrome never holds me back.” John & Mark enjoy hiring and showing what people with differing abilities can do. They are fierce advocates for the rights of the differently abled and have testified twice before the U.S. Congress and spoken at the United Nations. They recorded two TEDx Talks titled Differently Abled People Want to Help Us and Hiring People with Differing Abilities is Not Altruism, It Is Good Business. John and Mark are winners of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year and the Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman Humanitarian of the Year Award. Their company has also been featured on Fox & Friends, CNBC, and CBS Evening News.
Needless to say, I am very excited to sit down with the duo and would love for you to join us!