Shane and Ilya’s story is inspiring something pretty special beyond the pages of Rachel Reid’s books.
Heated Rivalry executive producers Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady have launched the Irina Foundation through their production company, Accent Aigu Entertainment. Inspired by the foundation their beloved hockey players establish in Reid’s Game Changers universe, the real-world fund will support LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities through sports and the arts.
For fans who have fallen hard for this world, it’s a meaningful way to see some of that love put to work.
A familiar name with a real-world purpose
Announced Tuesday, Sept. 29, the Irina Foundation is a private independent fund that will support organizations helping people participate in sports and arts programs, build relationships and find a sense of belonging. Its mission also centers on how those shared experiences can support mental well-being and resilience.
“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 said in a joint statement.
“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.”
The name will be familiar to readers. In Reid’s books, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov run a foundation by the same name, in honor of Ilya’s late mother, Irina.
Turning fandom into support
Kate Spade is the foundation’s inaugural donor, making a founding contribution, while Harry’s is joining as an early supporter.
The launch builds on fundraising already happening around Heated Rivalry. According to Accent Aigu, the company, its partners and fans have helped raise more than $1.5 million in recent months for organizations including You Can Play, the New York LGBTQ Center and Rainbow Railroad.
The foundation gives that generosity a place to keep growing, with a focus that feels especially fitting for a story that has brought so many queer fans together.
Honoring the heart of the story
For Accent Aigu President Jayme Alter Wilson, choosing Irina’s name was about carrying the story’s message forward.
“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 said in a statement.
“The Foundation is our way of honoring 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.”
There’s plenty to love about Heated Rivalry, and watching its community help create more spaces where queer people can feel welcome gives fans one more reason to be invested. Shane and Ilya may be fictional, but the support inspired by their story is becoming very real.
