Gala

"Who walks the red carpet

can no longer be swept under the carpet."

We roll out the red carpet for single parents and their children, friends, and organizations. Because they deserve attention and appreciation, not poverty and isolation.

The THANKS Gala takes place every year on THANKS Day, May 14th, the day before International Family Day. Since the very first gala, the response has been overwhelming. Many single mothers felt seen for the very first time in their lives and appreciated for their daily, often unseen, outstanding achievements.

Brands such as L'Oreal, Henkell, Lindt & Sprüngli or DM were involved from the beginning, as were Austrian Federal Presidents, VIPs from art, literature, film, business and sports, and the ORF as a media partner.

When Maria Stern, the founder of THANKS Day and the galas, gave a speech on the topic at the UN Women's Conference in New York in the spring of 2025, organizations from every continent announced they would also organize galas for single mothers as soon as they had the necessary funds. And when Stern was invited to the European Parliament in the fall of 2025, many greeted her with: "Oh, you are Maria, the one with the gala in Vienna..."

Yes, Vienna is already internationally recognized as a city of innovation and appreciation for single parents, and that's a good thing, because the journey has only just begun...

THANKS Gala 2026

When?

May 14, 2026

What?

Champagne reception: 6-7 pm

Program: 7 PM - 8:30 PM

Dancing & Networking: from 8:30 pm

Where?

Ehrbar Hall, Mühlgasse 30, 1040 Vienna

Free tickets:

office@thanksday.org

Childcare required? Please let us know.

At the Podium

Yvonne Widler

Journalist

Martin Schenk

Poverty Expert

Katharina Braun

Lawyer

The program is constantly being updated.

THANKS Gala 2025

On May 14, 2025, we rolled out the red carpet for single parents and their children for the second time. Because they deserve attention and appreciation, not poverty and isolation.

ORF Seitenblicke

Word donation video by Lea Stern

panel discussion

Photos by Reza Sarkari & Günter Leintner

From the guestbook

"The Thanks Gala transformed Vienna's Urania into a place of glamour and warmth – and put single mothers and their children in the spotlight. A powerful sign of appreciation and recognition! ♥"

"Dear anonymous major donor, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! So little limelight for you, so much impact for us. Money helps!"

"A gala of the highest caliber!"

"Two single teen mommies felt right at home today. What an inspiring atmosphere, a pure, rejuvenating experience."

"WOW! Honest words, powerful messages, exactly right! The world thanks you for the THANKS Gala! I am very happy to be part of THANKS Day!"

"After two decades of being a single parent, I'm grateful that we're finally becoming a little more visible. Thank you for Thanks Day!"

"Finally, I am being invited and pampered because I am doing the work I have done my whole life."

"Thank you so much for raising awareness of this issue and getting things moving! We need you! Urgently!"

"I enjoyed it very much. Beautiful as always..."

"I can't keep quiet... thank you for the multifaceted gala and for stimulating further reflection!"

"Your event has greatly strengthened and inspired me - and moved me to tears."

"Thank you Maria Stern & Maria Rösslhumer for the wonderful evening. You are incredibly powerful women who achieve so much. Bravo. As a former single mother, I was very touched by your appreciation for the remarkable achievement that so many women and some men accomplish, without seeing what they are doing and often just wallowing in guilt for not being a good mother."

"Thanks for THANKS Day and all the sponsors. Far too few... everyone who said no so far needs to dig deep into their pockets next time! Because we single mothers do important work for the future of the country, the world!"

Video message from former Federal President Dr. Heinz Fischer (transcript)

Ladies and Gentlemen
dear single parents,
dear guests of THANKS DAY,

It is a pleasure and an honor for me to send you a short message today – on an occasion that is very close to my heart.

Thanks Day is not just another holiday on the calendar – it is a powerful social statement. A sign of recognition, solidarity, and respect for all those who do great things every day – often behind the scenes.

Single parents bear an enormous responsibility – emotionally, financially, and logistically. They overcome challenges that many aren't even aware of. And they do so with strength, dignity, and a remarkable amount of love.

I am convinced that a society demonstrates its strength not least in how it treats those who bear special responsibility.

Therefore, I would like to sincerely thank all single parents today. And I also thank the initiators of THANKS Day – for their commitment, their conviction, and their tireless will to make the invisible visible.

I wish you all a festive and encouraging evening – and continued strength, unity and confidence.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely, Heinz Fischer.

Live Acts

panel discussion

Petra Unger - historian

Tamara Majnek - Caritas

Nadja Sarwat - Journalistin

Sabina Haas - Coaching

Sarah Zeller - Juno

Maryam Singh - Migrant.at

Speak Fire

Doris Zametzer - VHS Urania

Klaudia Frieben - Women's Ring

Tanja Wehsely - Volkshilfe

Andrea Czak - Fem.a

Isabella Burtscher - IB-Moderation

We thank you for your support from

We thank you for the donations in kind and the media partnership.

THANKS Gala 2024

On May 14, 2024, we rolled out the red carpet for single parents and their children for the very first time. Because it's about time. Because they deserve attention and appreciation. Instead of poverty and isolation.

Word donation video by Lea Stern

Photos by Reza Sarkari

From the guestbook

"Thank you for the red carpet..."

"It brought tears of sorrow, anger, and joy to me! Thank you!"

"Thank you so much! Especially for the 'belated' recognition. It was very kind."

"Thank you for this wonderful event and thank you for acknowledging us single parents and our children."

"Thank you for the great evening & here's to the feminist revolution!"

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

"May all children of single parents grow up strong and proud to change the world, so that poverty, social marginalization, and all kinds of injustice that they and their parents—who are mostly women—experience are transformed into the strength and courage for fundamental change. For all of us! Thank you for Thanks Day!"

"A huge thank you from all Ukrainian women for the wonderful support in Austria and a big thank you to Maria Stern and her amazing commitment to women with children!"

"The personal is political and the political is personal. Even in Styria. The gala was worth the trip! Absolutely!"

We thank you for supporting the

We would like to thank you for the donations in kind and the media partnership.

"Today I had the pleasure of standing on stage with a group of beautiful young people and hosting a world premiere: the first THANKS Gala rolled out the red carpet for single parents at the Urania. 🤗🤩"

I've spent half my life in movie theaters. And as a film reporter, I know a thing or two 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 everyone knows, it takes a village to raise children. My village had a front-row seat. The best family in the world and friends were celebrated on behalf of those who help every day to make single parents feel less alone. 🏆🎉

Thanks to the event's creator, Maria Stern. When she asked me if I wanted to help look after her latest project, I immediately agreed. One of my sons commented: "The main thing is that Will Smith doesn't come on stage and punch you like he did the Oscar host." And what can I say? It went well, nothing bad happened. 😜😎

There was a fantastic, youthful art and music program, great speeches from the Federal President on down, an elegant champagne reception, and lots of goodies. 🍿🤩

Hermann Hesse and Arthur Schnitzler have given readings at the Urania, and Lise Meitner has delivered lectures. Only when Einstein announced his visit to speak about the theory of relativity did we have to move to a larger hall. Here, we've chased away our crocodile child poverty and Tintifax isolation with the help of Kasperl and Petzi. 🐊🎪

The observatory offers a glimpse into space. Urania, the patron goddess of astronomy in Greek mythology, can predict the future. I hereby prophesy: Baby Thanks Day will grow into a global networking village for single parents. 💫 ⭐️

Nadja Sarwat - Moderator