ThinkBIG® was founded in 2014 with the primary mission of alleviating the stress of everyday financial expenses so families who are battling pediatric cancer can concentrate on treatment and healing. Having a child with pediatric cancer is a very medically stressful time, which also becomes very financially stressful due to a primary caregiver often having to take an unpaid leave of absence from e
mployment to accommodate their child’s chemotherapy and radiation treatments. ThinkBIG aims to alleviate this financial stress by helping these families with their rent/mortgage payments, utility bills, and other unpaid medical expenses. ThinkBIG also offers funeral support to those families who unfortunately lose their pediatric cancer battle. ThinkBIG currently helps pediatric cancer families who reside in or are being treated in the following Pennsylvania counties: Bradford, Carbon, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming. ThinkBIG was inspired by Carmine Monacelli, a young boy from Scranton, who was diagnosed with a bone cancer in September 2011. In the conversations with him during his treatment, he always spoke about want he wanted to be when he grew up and how he always wanted to help people. One day he would want to be a marine biologist, the next day a WWF wrestler; he even aspired to become the Pope. He was always "Thinking BIG." Carmine was inspirational, never letting his positive spirit waiver in the face of his ongoing chemotherapy and radiation. His cancer eventually claimed his life in March 2012, but in the nine short years he was on this earth, he knew he wanted to make a powerful impact. He was wise beyond his years and filled with a philanthropic heart. He left a legacy of futuristic dreams and selfless caring…he left a legacy of “Thinking Big.”
