Heated Rivalry producers launch real-life charity inspired by Ilya and Shane
Jacob Tierney, Connor Storrie, Hudson Williams and Brendan Brady attend the premiere of “Heated Rivalry” at TIFF Lightbox (Getty Images)
The producers behind Heated Rivalry have launched a real-life Irina Foundation, aiming to turn fans’ love of the gay hockey romance into practical support for LGBTQIA2S+ communities.
Accent Aigu Entertainment, led by cofounders and executive producers Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady, announced the Irina Foundation in an Instagram post on 29 September. The foundation says it will champion inclusivity and mental wellbeing by supporting sports and arts programmes, with a focus on LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities.
Kate Spade New York is the Irina Foundation’s inaugural donor, with men’s grooming brand Harry’s also named as an early supporter.
In a statement, Tierney and Brady said: “For many of us, some of life’s most meaningful moments happen on a team, in a studio or on a stage places where we find our people, discover what lights us up and feel like we belong.”
They added: “We’ve been incredibly lucky to build something we love and along the way find a community that means so much to us. The Foundation is our way of giving back. We’re grateful to Kate Spade and Harry’s for seeing that vision and helping us make it possible.”
What is the Irina Foundation and what will it fund?
The Irina Foundation takes its name from Irina, the late mother of Heated Rivalry protagonist Ilya Rozanov, and is directly inspired by the fictional foundation created by Ilya and Shane Hollander in Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series.
In the Heated Rivalry novel, Shane and Ilya establish their own foundation and use it to create a youth hockey camp designed to promote inclusion. The real-life Irina Foundation will operate somewhat differently, supporting existing nonprofits that run qualifying sports and arts programmes aligned with its mission.
On the Irina Foundation website, it describes itself as “dedicated to championing inclusivity and mental well-being and resilience” by supporting programmes that connect people through organised sport and the arts, focusing on “LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities”.
Accent Aigu president Jayme Alter Wilson said: “We chose the name Irina Foundation because, at the heart of Heated Rivalry, Irina represents something much bigger. She reminds us that behind every struggle is a person who deserves to be seen, loved and supported.”
Wilson added: “The Foundation is our way of honouring that message. We hope to channel the love people have for the world Rachel has created, and for Shane and Ilya, into something that can make a meaningful difference in the real world.”
How much has the Heated Rivalry fandom raised so far?
The launch follows recent fundraising tied to the show. Accent Aigu, alongside partners and fans, has helped raise over $1.5M over the past few months for organisations including You Can Play, the New York LGBTQ Center and Rainbow Railroad, as detailed in a company announcement. The Irina Foundation will continue those initiatives.
Reid also reacted to the launch, commenting “I’m so excited about this. It means so much,” in a response celebrating the announcement on her Instagram Stories.
The foundation arrives as interest in Heated Rivalry continues, with fans gearing up to see what’s in store for season two.
