#FUNDRAISING: ACCENT AIGU ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCH THE IRINA FOUNDATION

Accent Aigu Entertainment (AAE), producer of the critically acclaimed global hit series Heated Rivalry, announced today the launch of the Irina Foundation, a private independent fund dedicated to championing inclusivity and mental well-being by connecting people through organized sports and arts programs. Established by AAE co-founders Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady, the Foundation will support organizations that create opportunities for LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities to participate, build relationships and foster a sense of belonging.

Irina Foundation was founded on the belief that shared participation can create belonging and strengthen mental well-being and resilience in ways few other approaches can. By supporting organizations that create these spaces, the Foundation aims to help individuals build meaningful connections while fostering stronger, more connected communities around them.

Global lifestyle brand Kate Spade New York has played an integral role in bringing the Foundation to life and making connections with other like-minded partners, like men’s grooming brand Harry’s, who brings a decade of experience championing men’s mental health. As part of that commitment, Kate Spade will make a founding contribution to the Irina Foundation as its inaugural donor, with Harry’s also joining as an early supporter of the fund.

“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,” said Tierney and Brady. “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.”

This launch builds on a year of significant philanthropic activity by AAE. Over the past few months, AAE, together with its partners, fans and broader community has helped raise over $1.5 million USD for organizations and initiatives advancing inclusion, accessibility and social impact, including You Can Play, the New York LGBTQ Center and Rainbow Railroad, among others. The Irina Foundation will carry that work forward through a dedicated effort.

The Foundation takes its name from the foundation that Heated Rivalry characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov created in Rachel Reid’s New York Times bestselling Game Change series, which is named after Ilya’s mother, Irina, who struggled with her own mental health.

“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,” said Jayme Alter Wilson, President of Accent Aigu Entertainment. “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 Irina Foundation will be guided by an advisory board. Additional details about the Foundation to be announced. For information about the Irina Foundation visit irina-foundation.com.

A donor-advised fund for the Irina Foundation has been established in Canada through the Private Giving Foundation, a registered public foundation recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec and administered through TD Wealth. The Foundation provides the philanthropic infrastructure to receive charitable contributions and facilitate strategic grantmaking in support of The Irina Foundation’s charitable mission and intended impact.

In the US, the Irina Foundation is a Donor Advised Fund led by Accent Aigu Entertainment, powered by Panorama Global. Panorama Global is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, providing the philanthropic platform and infrastructure for the foundation’s grantmaking and impact.

About Accent Aigu Entertainment

Accent Aigu Entertainment (AAE) is a media and entertainment company founded by Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady. Since its inception, AAE has focused on developing, producing and redefining premium scripted content for global audiences. AAE’s current slate includes the critically acclaimed global hit series Heated Rivalry, which premiered in November 2025 and is currently in production on its second season. The series has garnered a Peabody Award, a Television Academy Honours Award, and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding New Television Series. Heated Rivalry received 18 Canadian Screen Award nominations, winning in all categories nominated including Best Drama Series, Best Writing, and Best Direction, and setting a record for the most wins by a series in a single year.