Making Champion Men

Billy s book, written with Phil Gifford, gives parents and people organising youth groups, a practical, detailed blueprint to turn around the lives of boys struggling with life. Based on lessons learned the hard way, it reveals the secrets behind one of the most remarkable success stories in New Zealand youth work, the Naenae Boxing Academy.A national boxing champion and then a globally recognised motivational speaker, winning a standing ovation from an audience of 5000 people at the Million Dollar Roundtable convention in Atlanta, Billy came home to Naenae, New Zealand, five years ago to set up the academy. Awards have flowed, local police say youth crime is down 30% and a detailed Massey University study confirmed the academy s amazing ability to help troubled boys become good young men.Minister of Youth Affairs, Paula Bennett came for a brief visit and left in tears of astonishment three hours later. Billy s book shows us, with passion and humour, how to work the same miracles in your home or community. Billy Graham won the Local Hero section of the 2011 New Zealander of the Year awards.