"Whoever walks the red carpet

can no longer

be swept under the carpet."

On May 14, 2024, we rolled out the red carpet for single parents and their children for the first time in the Urania Vienna. Because it is time. Because they deserve appreciation and attention. Instead of poverty and isolation.

"Thanks for the red carpet..." (Guestbook)

"It brought tears of sadness, anger and joy to my eyes! Thank you!"  (Guestbook)

"Thank you very much! Especially for the "late" recognition. It was good." (Guestbook)

"Thank you for this wonderful event and thank you for honoring us single parents and our children." (Guestbook)

"Thank you for the great evening and to the feminist revolution!" (Guestbook)

"I laughed, I cried, I was silent, listening, discussing afterwards and above all full full full of admiration for the engagement. Learnt a lot and love the "red carpet" meaning... love & congratulations..." (Guestbook)

"May all children of single parents change the world with strength and pride, so that poverty, social marginalization and injustices of all kinds that they and their parents - mostly women - experience are transformed into the strength and courage to bring about fundamental change. For all of us! Thank you - for Thanks Day!" (Guestbook)



"A big thank you from all Ukrainian women for the great support in Austria and a big thank you to Maria Stern and her great commitment to women with children!" (Guestbook)

"The private is political and the political is private. Even in Styria. The gala was worth the trip! But how!" (Guestbook)



Photo Credits: Reza Sarkari

"Today I was able to stand on stage with lots of beautiful, young people and host a world premiere: the first THANKS Gala rolled out the red carpet for single parents in the Urania. 🤗🤩

I've spent half my life in movie theaters. And as a film reporter, I know a little about premieres. From LA to Cannes. But for me, this was definitely the most important premiere I've ever been to. 🍿🥰

Because here, single parents were celebrated as superstars. But not only them: as we all know, it takes a whole village to raise children. My village sat in the front row with no room to move. The best family in the world and friends were celebrated on behalf of those who help every day to make single parents less alone. 🏆🎉

Thanks to the mother of the event, Maria Stern. When she asked me if I wanted to help look after her latest project baby, I immediately agreed. One of my sons commented: "The main thing is that no Will Smith comes on stage and slaps you like he did to the Oscar presenter." And what can I tell you? Well, nothing happened. 😜😎

There was a fantastic, young art and music program, great speeches from the Federal President downwards, a fine champagne reception and many goodies. 🍿🤩

Hermann Hesse and Arthur Schnitzler have read and Lise Meitner have given lectures in the Urania. Only when Einstein announced that he was coming to speak about the theory of relativity did we have to move to a larger room. Here, with Kasperl and Petzi, we chased away our crocodile Child Poverty and the Tintifax Isolation. 🐊🎪

The observatory allows a view into space. Urania, the patron goddess of astronomy in Greek mythology, can predict the future. I hereby predict: Baby Thanksgiving Day will grow into a global networking village for single parents." 💫 ⭐️ Nadja Sarwat - Presenter

Photo: Ben Sarwat

Live Acts

Young Arts Orchestra

Grischka Voss: "I always go on stage with a mission. I want to convey something. I assume that the audience is like children who want to hear a story. That's why I always play with conviction, even if only one audience member comes." Die Presse

Delilah - strong lyrics, strong voice. The newcomer of songwriting!

Maryna Marmazinskaya - "KüR wins the protest song contest 2023! This has never happened before: the Ukrainian Maryna aka KüR received the maximum number of points five times. The jury and the audience were on her side!" orf.at

Laura Brown - "A concert by LAURA BRAUN takes the audience on a dream journey in which the boundaries between biographical episode, small perspective and overwhelming reality are fluid. A touching homage to the sleepwalking zeitgeist of those years. A declaration of war on the seductive resignation of the supposed powerlessness of the individual. A declaration of love for the power of simple, modest words in times of deafening background noise." HP

King & Potter - Ever since their 3 million streaming success “Berlin”, King & Potter are no longer unknown in the German-speaking music scene. The two young musicians keep coming up with catchy hits. Their second studio album “Habits!” was released in November 2023 and was nominated for an Amadeus in the “Best Sound” category.ined.

Panel discussion

Moderation: Beatrice Frasl

Podcaster, author, columnist

Andrea Czak - Chairwoman Fem.a Feminist Single Parents

Klaudia Frieben - Chairwoman of the Austrian Women's Ring

Katharina Mader - Economist, Momentum Institute

Maria Rösslhumer - Violence protection expert

Tanja Wehsely - Managing Director Volkshilfe Vienna

Shoura Zehetner Hashemi - Managing Director Amnesty International Austria

The gala will be hosted by Nadja Sarwat - Journalist, author & Hollywood expert