Accent Aigu Entertainment (AAE), the producer of Crave’s global hit Heated Rivalry, is launching the Irina Foundation, a private independent fund dedicated to championing inclusivity and mental well-being.
Established by AAE co-founders Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady, the foundation aims to connect people through organized sports and arts programs, supporting organizations that create opportunities for LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities.
The foundation’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that shared participation can create belonging and strengthen mental well-being and resilience. Founding contributors and supporters of its mission include Kate Spade New York and men’s grooming brand Harry’s.
“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, in an announcement. “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 foundation directly takes its name from Rachel Reid’s Game Change series, in which Heated Rivalry characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov found a foundation named after Ilya’s mother, Irina, who struggled with her own mental health.
The Irina Foundation will be guided by an advisory board. A donor-advised fund for the Irina Foundation has been established in Canada through the Private Giving Foundation.
