Quite A Pair: Special 50th Anniversary ANCHOR Socks Revealed

Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony D’Esposito and John Cronin, the co-founder of John’s Crazy Socks delivered special 50th anniversary commemorative socks at Camp ANCHOR on Thursday. D’Esposito recently ran a sock competition, where all camp participants designed socks to celebrate the anniversary of the camp, with John selecting a winner that was then sent to production.

“The enthusiasm that we received for this competition was unparalleled,” D’Esposito said. “Our ANCHOR participants really got into the spirit and created some amazing sock designs. I am very happy that I was not the person who had to choose the big winner!”

ANCHOR is the town’s comprehensive year-round program serving 1,200 children and adults with special needs. Camp ANCHOR, the town’s six-week summer day camp program, serves approximately 700 children and adults with special needs throughout the summer. Camp participants who are ages five years and up enjoy an array of athletic, aquatic and cultural programs, as well as field trips and special events.

John’s Crazy Socks is operated by John, a young man with Down Syndrome, and his father Mark. The company is built on the mission of showing what is possible when you give someone a chance and demonstrate what people with intellectual disabilities can do.

“It is clear to see, from the socks that were designed, how much the campers love ANCHOR and how enthusiastic they were about celebrating its 50th Anniversary,” said Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby.

Proceeds from the sale of the 50th Anniversary commemorative sock will go to the ANCHOR Program Fund, which is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that accepts donations to fund special activities and events, as well as the necessary supplies and equipment, for individuals with disabilities participating in programs like ANCHOR. So far, more than $9,000 has been raised through the pre-sale of the socks and sales will continue at www.johnscrazysocks.com.

“Camp ANCHOR is such a special place and the Program Fund allows the campers to enjoy even more enriching activities,” said Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney. “I can only imagine the wonderful things they are going to be able to do with the funds raised through this competition!”

John’s Crazy Socks donated the production costs of all the socks pre-sold so the ANCHOR Program Fund will be able to utilize all the proceeds from the nearly 600 socks that were delivered by the officials and John.

“All the designs that were submitted were so great,” D’Esposito said. “Every camper who worked on one of these designs is a winner in my book and should feel an enormous amount of pride in their accomplishment!”

Photo courtesy Town of Hempstead