Dad Receives Over 15,000 ‘Happy Birthday’ Calls After His Sons Hire Billboard Asking For Kind Messages

With phrases like ‘deadbeat dad’ often being thrown around willy-nilly, I think it’s important that we take the opportunity to celebrate the good dads in our society, which is exactly what these guys did for their beloved dad’s 62nd birthday.

Mike and Chris Ferry wanted to wish their dad – also called Chris – a happy birthday, but as the two of them live in Florida, and their dad lives in New Jersey, they had to think of something a little different.

Advertisement

Most people might send a card with a voucher inside, or maybe club together to buy him a nice new flatscreen TV or something, but what Mike and Chris Jr. did certainly sparked up conversation more than those things ever could. The brothers spend $2,000 on a massive billboard in New Jersey with his face on it, alongside his cellphone number.

The message on the billboard reads: “Wish my dad happy birthday – love, your sons.”

What a nice gesture! Although I’m sure there was also an element of prankery to it, with the sons no doubt amused at the prospect of their dad being inundated with calls from strangers.

Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened, and it wasn’t just people who were driving past the billboard who took notice. In the age of social media, this photo spread like wildfire. Soon enough, Papa Chris was getting calls from all around the world.

Advertisement

Speaking to Inside Edition, the birthday boy said that he had received calls from “Every state in the Union, Luxemburg, Kenya, Philippines, Caritas Island – that little island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, they tried calling me.”

Wow. I didn’t even know that place existed! It’s amazing what social media can do.

Out of the thousands of strangers to wish him a happy birthday, a guy called Nick was the first.

Mr Ferry told CBS3: “Thursday morning I got a text that said ‘happy birthday’, and I said, ‘who’s this?’

“Nick.”

“Nick who?”

“You don’t know me.”

“How do you know it’s my birthday?”

“I read it on a billboard.””

That moment right there is definitely worth the $2000 that the sons forked out!

Advertisement

Mr Ferry said he has become somewhat of a local celebrity off the back of the prank.

He said: “A waitress recognized me, she said, ‘Oh you’re the billboard dad.’ So that’s my new angle, I’m the billboard dad.”

It’s quite appropriate really that Mr Ferry is now famous among waitresses – according to the songs, this kind of wholesome prank started out in restaurants when the boys were children and would tell waitresses that it was their dad’s birthday, even when it wasn’t.

Despite being inundated with voicemails and messages, and even having to record a new voicemail message thanking well-wishers, Mr Ferry said the prank was ultimately more heart-warming than annoying.

Advertisement

He actually got some really sweet messages. Speaking to CBS2, he said: “I’m getting things like, ‘My father’s birthday was March 16. He passed away. I’m contacting you in memory of him.’

It’s just as well really that Mr Ferry has taken the joke in good humor, as the billboard is due to stay up until 6 April – way beyond his birthday on Saturday.

From everyone at Aunty Acid, happy birthday, Chris Snr!

The post Dad Receives Over 15,000 ‘Happy Birthday’ Calls After His Sons Hire Billboard Asking For Kind Messages appeared first on Go Social.