Fred Says

Fred Says Fred Says is a nonprofit organization that supports HIV-positive youth.

Order our book WHEN DOGS HEAL — stories of people living with HIV and the dogs that saved them (PRE-SALE from Lerner Books available through JANUARY 2, 2021). Based in Chicago, Illinois, Fred Says is a nonprofit organization that offers support for HIV-positive youth. We are devoted to improving and maintaining the well-being of teens through medical care, grants, fundraising, and scholarships. Th

rough the help of social media, agencies, and adolescent HIV programs, we strive to reduce the stigma associated with the disease.

This week, read excerpts from When Dogs Heal to the 6th grade students at Magic City Acceptance Academy LGBTQA Charter ...
12/06/2024

This week, read excerpts from When Dogs Heal to the 6th grade students at Magic City Acceptance Academy LGBTQA Charter School in Birmingham, AL — one of 11 recipients of funding from Fred Says for 2024.

This World AIDS Day, the Fred Says Foundation gave out $215,000 to support pet therapy and adoption programs, specialized mental health and drop-in services, transportation and housing assistance, peer-led support for transgender and HIV+ youth, and HIV-prevention efforts both in the U.S. and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The full list of 2024 Fred Says award recipients are:

• Magic City Acceptance Academy (), Birmingham, AL
• Center on Halsted (), Chicago, IL
• Human Rights Campaign (), Washington, DC
• University of Ibadan (), Ibadan, Nigeria
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (), Chicago, IL
• The GenderCool Project (), Chicago, IL
• Youth Outlook Services (), Chicago, IL
• Los Angeles Gay and Le***an Center (), Los Angeles, CA
• Advocates for Youth (), Washington, DC
• Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (), Cape Town, South Africa
• VIVENT Health/TPAN (), Chicago, IL

We look forward to seeing the important work they’ll do in the coming year 🐾

Although Fred may no longer be by our side, some iconic pictures never get old.
03/31/2024

Although Fred may no longer be by our side, some iconic pictures never get old.

10 Days: Holiday Gratitude in Pictures #7: GIVING - The gift of giving brings so much joy. As a pediatrician life and ca...
12/20/2023

10 Days: Holiday Gratitude in Pictures

#7: GIVING - The gift of giving brings so much joy. As a pediatrician life and career have often been about service. But today as part of an annual tradition, I gave away 100 Fred stuffed animals to children and families for the holidays at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. In about 7 minutes!! A new record.

When I started our Fred Says charity in 2012 or 2013 (www.fredsays.org) I hoped to do something creative, and personal, and meaningful honoring the gift of life Fred had given me by now giving back to others. It was clearly a crazy idea. I remember my mom asking me, “Can’t you just go on vacation or something and relax, why do you have to start a charity.” I’ll admit, making my dog a muse for a grassroots charity supporting organizations that care for LGBTQ young people and adolescents living with and affected by HIV was a little bananas. But hey, have you met me…

Over the years, we made and sold Fred greeting cards, we made a “Men of Fred” calendar (LOL), we rode hundreds of miles on our bikes, we washed dogs on a late summer Saturday afternoon all in the name of raising monies to give away to support others. As zany as it all was, it was really fun and the giving…joyous!

When Fred unexpectedly died in 2021, I was devastated; not sure if and how I wanted to do this work. It all just seemed so hard with him as a menory and not by my side. But then, a miracle happened. A miracle. Angel donor(s) supported our work and our mission saying “you and Fred have just begun to change the world.” It was a blessing.

So this past year, we celebrated our 10th year of charitable giving. Whether it is supporting young people in Chicago, or Birmingham, or Los Angeles, or even as far as Nigeria or South Africa, the gift of Fred keeps on giving, and is making a difference. And it remains fun and joyous.

So what’s with the stuffed animals? Complimenting the monies we gift youth serving organizations, gifting 500 or more of these Fred stuffed animals to children and families has become annual tradition. The smiles on the kids faces when I introduce them to Fred is just best.

Pictured here: Me and some stuffed Fred’s today and then, the OG - Fred himself - in a box of of the first shipment of stuffed animals that bear his name.

The 6th grade students at the Magic City Acceptance Academy in Birmingham with their Fred plush toys. ❤️🐾
01/17/2023

The 6th grade students at the Magic City Acceptance Academy in Birmingham with their Fred plush toys. ❤️🐾

Photos from , + celebrating with gifts from Fred Says. ❤️
12/09/2022

Photos from , + celebrating with gifts from Fred Says. ❤️

12/06/2022

The Roverchase Foundation Service Dog Heroes had a wonderful day at Magic City Acceptance Academy with the students reading When Dogs Heal. This is a truly lovely book with an amazing mission. We were very excited to be a part of this special day at one of our very favorite places!
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Photos from our friends at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation receiving 100 plush Freds in the mail—the cherry on top of...
12/06/2022

Photos from our friends at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation receiving 100 plush Freds in the mail—the cherry on top of our giving. ❤️

In honor of , we are giving a total of $210,000 in gifts to the following organizations: The Magic City Acceptance ...
12/02/2022

In honor of , we are giving a total of $210,000 in gifts to the following organizations:






The Magic City Acceptance Academy


The Initiative for the Advancement of Improved Health and Development

Fred’s legacy lives on by making the world a better place for young people living with ❤️

“As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, a historic gift from Fred Says — a Chicago-based charity founded by HIV-...
12/09/2021

“As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, a historic gift from Fred Says — a Chicago-based charity founded by HIV-positive doctor Rob Garofalo — reminds us that there is another pandemic that requires our commitment.”

A *HUGE* thanks to for the beautiful piece on our gifts. ❤️ Link in bio.

A *HUGE* thanks to for the beautiful piece on our gifts. ❤️ Link in bio. “As we continued to fight the COVID-19 pande...
12/08/2021

A *HUGE* thanks to for the beautiful piece on our gifts. ❤️ Link in bio.

“As we continued to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, a historic gift from Fred Says — a Chicago-based charity founded by HIV-positive doctor Rob Garofalo — reminds us that there is another pandemic that requires our commitment.”

The cherry on top of our gift giving: We distributed 100 Fred plush toys to the kids at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children...
12/02/2021

The cherry on top of our gift giving: We distributed 100 Fred plush toys to the kids at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. ❤️❤️❤️

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75 Bagby Drive
Homewood, AL
35209

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