This July, we’re heading to Mobile, Alabama and we couldn’t be more excited.

We’ve been invited by Project Outreach Gulf Coast to speak at two of their signature events: the Night of Change fundraising dinner on Thursday, July 10, and the MERGE Conference for educators and students on Friday, July 11.

Project Outreach

Project Outreach is a grassroots movement born from one simple act of kindness: students sitting with a peer who has autism to build friendship and connection. That spark has since ignited school service clubs, district-wide events, and a mission to create genuine relationships between people with disabilities and their communities.

It’s a mission that speaks to our hearts and echoes our own journey with John’s Crazy Socks. We believe in the power of inclusion. We believe in showing what’s possible. We see ability before disability. And we believe that joy belongs in our workplaces, our schools, and our lives.

At the Night of Change dinner, we’ll share our story as father and son, business partners, and advocates. We’ll talk about the challenges we’ve faced and the happiness we’ve found. We’ll speak of how John benefitted from his education and social programs outside of school and highlight the importance of the work that Project Outreach does. We’ll speak on the benefits of hiring people with differing abilities and how meaningful work changes lives, not just for people with disabilities, but for families, companies, and communities.

At the MERGE Conference, we’ll speak directly to the future: the teachers shaping inclusive classrooms, the students leading Project Outreach clubs, the administrators creating culture. Together, we’ll explore how to break down barriers, build opportunities, and lead with heart.

Our message is simple: Don’t limit people. See their possibilities. Whether you’re an educator, an entrepreneur, or a student leader, you have the power to make a difference.

John likes to say, “I have Down syndrome, but Down syndrome never holds me back.” And he means it. Together, we built the world’s largest sock store with a mission to spread happiness. More than half of our colleagues have differing abilities. Inclusion isn’t charity. It’s smart business. It’s better schools. It’s a better world.

We can’t wait to meet the changemakers of Mobile and celebrate the incredible work of Project Outreach. If you’re in the area, we hope to see you there.

Let’s keep moving forward together.

For media or event inquiries: booking@johnandmarkcronin.com