John's Crazy Socks To Receive Humanitarian Award

LONG ISLAND, NY — It's been a successful 2019 for John Cronin and his father, Mark Cronin. The men behind John's Crazy Socks, a Melville-based online retailer, will be honored at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum's annual Badge of Courage Celebration on Oct. 18, the museum announced.

The Badge of Courage Celebration honors Long Islanders for their heroic efforts and support of fire safety, prevention, and education. The John's Crazy Socks duo will receive the Firefighters Humanitarian Award.

John Cronin, who has Down syndrome, combined his affinity for crazy socks with his love of making people smile to make it clear the business' mission is to spread happiness.

"Every day, they demonstrate what people with intellectual disabilities can do," the press release states.

John’s Crazy Socks donates five percent of their earnings to the Special Olympics and continue to expand their charity partners by offering and creating socks with specific “awareness” themes, such as autism awareness socks and Down syndrome awareness socks. The business will be creating a "Nassau County Firefighters Museum" sock.

John was given special recognition by Huntington Councilwoman Joan Cergol in August after he became the first man with Down syndrome to win the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 New York Award.

The funds raised at the Badge of Courage Celebration will assist the museum in supporting educational programs and demonstrations, updating displays and interactive exhibits, and adding new equipment, props and memorabilia.