Huntington's John Cronin Named Man of the Year at Marty Lyons Foundation's Courage Classic

John Cronin, co-founder and Chief Happiness Officer of John's Crazy Socks and Wahooo Market, was named Man of the Year at the 4th Annual Courage Classic on Monday, an honor presented by the Marty Lyons Foundation Long Island Chapter and the Denis Barry Foundation at Indian Hills Country Club in Northport.

The Courage Classic began with registration and breakfast in the morning, followed by a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start. Cronin, who did not play, spent the day greeting golfers as they arrived and then following the course to cheer them on hole by hole.

At an evening dinner, Marty Lyons, the Foundation's co-founder and a former New York Jets defensive lineman, introduced Cronin to the room, describing him as someone who puts a smile on people's faces and shows that no obstacle can hold anyone back, before presenting him with the award.

In accepting it, Cronin thanked Lyons and shared credit with his John's Crazy Socks colleagues, telling the room the honor belonged to the team members who work hard every day to make the business what it is. He also thanked his father and business partner, Mark X. Cronin, for the confidence and strength to lead the company. Mark Cronin then joined his son at the microphone, and the two recounted the story of John's Crazy Socks together to a standing ovation.

"I am so excited for this day!" Cronin said ahead of the event. "I love what the Marty Lyons Foundation does because it brings happiness to children who need it most."

The Marty Lyons Foundation grants wishes to children ages 3 to 17 facing terminal or life-threatening illnesses, and is one of a small number of wish-granting organizations that will grant a second wish to a child in need. It traces its roots to March 1982, when Lyons, then a member of the Jets’ "New York Sack Exchange" defensive line, experienced the birth of his first son, the sudden death of his father, and the death of a young boy he mentored, all within days of each other. He and a small group of six people on Long Island, including Jets teammate Kenny Schroy, founded the organization in response. It has since grown to 11 chapters across 14 states and, as of January 2026, had granted more than 8,800 wishes and raised over $45 million.

"In the way he spreads happiness and cares for other people, John is an ideal honoree for the Marty Lyons Foundation," Lyons said.

Cronin has been a longtime supporter of the Foundation, including through its annual Draft Night fundraiser, well before Monday's honor. He co-founded John's Crazy Socks in Huntington in 2016 with his father; the company has since shipped more than 500,000 packages to 94 countries and donated over $850,000 to charity partners, including Special Olympics New York.

Cronin’s motto, which he shares often: "Follow your heart. Follow your dreams. Work hard. Show what you can do."

###

About John's Crazy Socks

John's Crazy Socks is a Huntington-based, mission-driven business co-founded in 2016 by John Cronin and his father, Mark X. Cronin. John Cronin has Down syndrome, and after finishing school and facing difficulty finding meaningful employment, decided to build his own company. The business has since shipped more than 500,000 packages to 94 countries, donated over $850,000 to charity partners including Special Olympics New York, and created dozens of jobs for people with differing abilities. John Cronin is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and the first person with Down syndrome to receive the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award. For more information, visit johnscrazysocks.com.