The Origin of the name “Lucky Hare”.

J’s great-great grandfather, Vincenzo Coniglio, arrived in New York City from Italy in the late 1800s, chasing the same promise that drew so many before him. It was a hard and hostile time for Italian immigrants.

Work was scarce, prejudice was common, and the margin for error was thin. Vincenzo struggled to find steady employment and lived under the constant threat of deportation—one setback away from losing the chance to build a better life for his family.

A neighbor told him NYPD was looking for beat cops, so he prepared himself as best he could for the job. When he applied, the clerk wrote his name down as “Cornelius” instead of “Coniglio.”

Whether it was a mistake or a quiet kindness is impossible to know. What mattered was the result: Cornelius sounded Dutch, and the job followed.

Family lore says Vincenzo always believed luck only counts when you’re ready for it—that his future hinged not just on a fortunate break, but on the work he did to be ready when it arrived. Hence the motto: Make your own luck.