The people behind Heated Rivalry are taking one of the series’ most beloved ideas off the page and into the real world.
Accent Aigu Entertainment co-founders Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady have launched the Irina Foundation, a new initiative supporting inclusivity, mental wellbeing and resilience through sport and the arts, with a focus on LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities.
Yes, the name will be familiar to fans of Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series.
The fictional Irina Foundation was created by hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in Heated Rivalry, with the pair using it to support opportunities for young people in sport.
The foundation takes its name from Ilya’s mother, Irina.
Storytelling into change
According to its website, it was created around the idea that storytelling can inspire lasting change, while shared participation in sport and the arts can help people build connection, confidence and community.
“It is guided by the principle that welcoming spaces where people can participate, express themselves, and build meaningful connections help individuals thrive and strengthen the communities around them,” the website says.
Rather than creating its own programs, the Irina Foundation says it will provide grants and partnerships to established nonprofit organisations already delivering qualifying arts and sports programs.
That includes programs designed to create accessible, welcoming spaces where people can “participate, express themselves, and build meaningful connections”.
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“Behind every struggle is a person who deserves to be seen, loved and supported,” Jayme Alter Wilson, president of Accent Aigu Entertainment, said in a statement.
“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.”
The foundation has already attracted corporate backing, with Kate Spade New York named as its inaugural donor and men’s grooming brand Harry’s joining as an early supporter.
Rachel Reid herself has also commented on the foundation’s Instagram announcement, saying “I’m so excited about this. It means so much.”
For a series that has resonated so strongly with queer audiences because of its emphasis on love, belonging and finding space to be yourself, the foundation is a really beautiful extension of that story beyond the screen.
And while Shane and Ilya might be fictional, the need for inclusive spaces in sport and the arts very much isn’t.
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