Funeral Directors Honored in Times Square as “The First Call” Sparks National Momentum
143 professionals recognized as campaign reaches 18,000+ viewers and continues this week at ICCFA Experience 2026
NEW YORK, NY — April 29, 2026 — A profession that so often serves quietly stepped into the spotlight last Thursday, April 23, as 143 death care professionals from across the country were honored in Times Square through The First Call, a national recognition campaign created to spotlight funeral directors and the care they provide families every day.
More than 150 funeral professionals, family members, friends, and supporters gathered in New York City for the live viewing. Beyond Times Square, the event livestream reached more than 18,000 viewers, while participant social posts quickly generated tens of thousands of additional views.
Created by Chptr in partnership with the National Funeral Directors Association, Tribute Technology, and Homesteaders Life Company, the campaign was designed to bring public attention to the people who guide families through life’s hardest moments with compassion, steadiness, and care.
For one evening, the people who answer the first call were seen in one of the most visible places in the world.
“The energy in Times Square was something I’ll never forget,” said Rehan Choudhry, Founder and CEO of Chptr. “You could feel the pride, the emotion, and the sense that this profession was finally being recognized in a way it rarely is. It meant a lot to all of us.”
For participants, the night represented something larger than personal recognition.
“Seeing myself on a billboard in Times Square is something I never imagined, and truthfully, it was never the goal,” said Justin Keiper, Funeral Director and Supervisor of Cantelmi Funeral Home. “It was about what it represented. For a moment, this work was seen.”
Others reflected on the pride of seeing colleagues from across the country recognized together in such a public way.
“It’s hard to put into words what we experienced that night,” said Lindsay Granson, Chief Operating Officer at Heritage Family. “Watching funeral directors from around the country be honored in Times Square was incredible. This profession is one of the most important and often overlooked, and that night was all about them.”
The livestream replay remains available on Chptr’s Facebook page, and event highlights continue to be shared across social media using #thefirstcall.
With the Times Square launch complete, Chptr will now expand The First Call nationally in partnership with hundreds of local television and radio stations, bringing the message into communities across the country. Additional campaign updates, participation opportunities, and event highlights are available at chptr.com/thefirstcall. A video of the Times Square event is available at https://vimeo.com/1187696475.
This next phase also includes participants receiving media and community outreach resources, including local press materials, photos, video assets, and storytelling tools designed to extend the recognition into hometown communities nationwide. The initiative is intended to help more families and communities better understand the depth of care funeral professionals provide every day.
If attending ICCFA Experience 2026 this week, visitors can connect with Chptr as the team continues recording interviews and spotlighting professionals from across funeral service, bringing more of the profession’s voices and stories into public view.
About Chptr
Chptr is a community storytelling company helping funeral homes bring modern memorialization to the families they serve. Through its Broadcast, Social, and Video offerings, Chptr transforms photos and memories into video tributes that reach thousands through trusted local media platforms. The company partners with funeral homes and media organizations nationwide, coordinating directly with families to keep workflows simple while extending care beyond traditional channels. Chptr ensures every story is shared with dignity, reaching the communities who knew and loved them.
Learn more at chptr.com.
