An imaginary charity that figures in the novels adapted for the hit TV series Heated Rivalry is now a real-life nonprofit, Deadline reports.
On Tuesday, Accent Aigu Entertainment, which produces the TV adaptation of Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers series of gay hockey romance novels, announced the creation of the Irina Foundation, dedicated to “championing inclusivity and mental well-being through participation in sports and the arts, with a focus on LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities.”
In Reid’s novels, characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov launch a similar foundation, named in honor of Rozanov’s mother.
“By supporting organizations that create these spaces, the Foundation aims to help individuals build meaningful connections while fostering stronger, more connected communities around them,” the announcement said.
The fashion house Kate Spade New York was announced as the foundation’s inaugural donor, with Harry’s, the maker of men’s shaving products, as an “early supporter.”
“The foundation means so much to me and I’m so proud to be a part of the wonderful Heated Rivalry family,” Reid wrote Wednesday on Instagram.
Accent Aigu is currently in production on the second season of Heated Rivalry, which premiered in late 2025 and became a surprise sensation. Kirkus has a guide to the books for fans of the show, which notes that The Long Game has a plot line in which “Shane’s plan to create a hockey school and foundation with Ilya comes to fruition.”
The Irina Foundation website includes more information, as well as a link for donations.
Mark Athitakis is a writer and reviewer in Arizona.
