That John Cronin was a special boy was known, but that his passion would make him even more special, no one believed. This is the story of a young American who knew how to invest in his dreams, giving birth to a business that is both profitable and solid: An online sock store where most of the profits go to charity.

'I love socks because they're fun, colorful, and they keep my feet warm.' With this simplicity, the 21-year-old New York entrepreneur, who suffers from Down syndrome, explains what led him to open John's Crazy Socks, the online sock store that has the most extravagant catalog on the market.

'I've worn absurd socks my whole life, which allow me to be myself.' There are all kinds, from food to animals, from famous characters to the strangest objects. No fantasy escapes their sellers.

The one who accompanies him on this adventure is his father Mark. It was to him that John turned two years ago, after graduating from high school, to share his entrepreneurial project. The beginnings were not easy at all. There were very few suppliers who believed in a start-up born from nothing. 'But when they discovered that in the first year we had invoiced 1.3 million dollars - says Mark - the wind changed for us'.

From that time on, the two decided to donate 5% of their income to charity. A good portion was given to associations dealing with autism and Down syndrome. Thus, from a simple bet, John Crazy Socks was transformed into a truly successful venture, with a recently inaugurated website.

Despite his busy schedule, John has remained the same old boy. Today, he spends his days packing orders, developing new initiatives and dealing with his employees. Even the very special ones. 'Working with people who have problems like John's is our success and that doesn't stop us at all,' comments Mark.

On the other hand, the morale of the group is sky high. 'It's nice to come home happy after an intense day at work,' explains Elyssa. Alex, another collaborator, says: 'All this shows that in life you can do anything you want.'

'We have a mission to spread happiness - focusing on John and Mark - and we're doing it through socks'. A message that comes across loud and clear, as the John'Crazu Socks social media page has more than 200 followers, including former US President George HW Bush, who recently placed an order with the online store. For both, the greatest pleasure is working together. 'My son and I have a special relationship - concludes Mark - and we know that one needs the other. I'm a lucky man'.
(uncle/BalkanWeb)