Dr. Rob Garofalo is a physician who has treated HIV-positive children and adolescents for more than two decades. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and at a particularly low point in his life, he searched the Internet for "puppy Chicago" and an image of Fred popped up. Although he had never previously had a pet, Garofalo credits the Yorkshire terrier with bringing both peace and joy to his life again.

Fred's healing properties have now led to a creative project aimed at helping teens who are HIV positive and uninsured.

By selling "Fred Says" greeting cards online, Garofalo is raising money to help this vulnerable population. According to their website, doc and dog have four goals:

• to raise as much money as possible for HIV-positive teens without health insurance,
• to be as popular as "Boo" on Facebook (he's Fred's idol),
• to have their efforts noticed by Ellen Degeneres, and to go on her show (Fred just loves her), and
• to sell enough cards that they can make a beneficial impact on teens with HIV.

Garofalo is an attending physician at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and Director of both the hospital's Adolescent/Young Adult HIV Program and the Gender, Sexuality, and HIV Prevention Center. Garofalo is a strong advocate for HIV-positive adolescents through primary patient care and innovative HIV prevention research projects. To help him and Fred reach their goals, go to www.fredsays.org. A $1 e-card can help teens living with HIV.

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