Kate Spade New York backs 'Heated Rivalry' creators' Irina Foundation as inaugural donor

Kate Spade New York has become the inaugural donor to the Irina Foundation, a new initiative from the creative team behind the television series "Heated Rivalry."

The brand announced the donation at its fifth annual Global Summit on Women's Mental Health, held Thursday at The Shed in New York City. This year's summit focused on Gen Z women.

The Irina Foundation is an initiative of Accent Aigu Entertainment (AAE), the media company founded by Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady. The foundation aims to promote inclusivity and mental well-being through organised sports and arts programmes, with a focus on LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities.

Reaching a younger audience

"Heated Rivalry," based on author Rachel Reid's novels, premiered in November 2025 and is in production on its second season. According to Kate Spade New York, the show's story of belonging has resonated with audiences including young women.

"Kate Spade New York has been an incredible partner, and we're deeply grateful to have them as a foundation supporter and the inaugural donor of The Irina Foundation," said Tierney and Brady, co-founders of the Irina Foundation and AAE. "When we started building the Foundation, we wanted to work with people who have proven track records in this space."

Taryn Bird, executive director of social impact at Kate Spade New York, said: "Partnering with the team behind Heated Rivalry around our shared commitment and taking action to support mental health is how we meet the next generation where they already are. That's the power of collective action."

The brand said it also helped bring other partners on board to support the foundation, including men's grooming brand Harry's, which joined as an early contributor.

Summit line-up

The summit featured a panel with Tierney, Brady, AAE president Jayme Alter Wilson and Reid, joined by 'Heated Rivalry' cast members Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova and Christina Chang. The discussion was moderated by ESPN NHL insider Emily Kaplan.

Other speakers included actress Antonia Gentry; Vogue Business executive editor Hilary Milnes; and Your Rich BFF founder Vivian Tu. Summit partners included Adyen, Spotify, Pinterest and Lululemon, which led a panel and hosted the closing reception.

Kate Spade New York's fall 2026 collection was featured throughout the day.

This article was written with the assistance of AI.