Our History
In 2006 Billy and Kerri Graham established the Naenae Boxing Academy (NBA) with a vision of giving back to the community that Billy had grown up in during the 50s. In 1956 Billy was brought into the Railway’s Boxing Gym by the local Police Officer Hoppy Hodges. It was here that Billy met the legendary Dick Dunn who would have a profound impact on him, playing a key role in supporting Billy to turn his life around. It was Billy’s time with Dick Dunn that inspired the establishment of the NBA in 2006, and from the day the doors opened young people were welcomed into the same environment that had helped Billy succeed so many years earlier. The vision has remained ever since, Champion young people contributing to their communities.
In 2018 The Billy Graham Youth Foundation (BGYF) was established in response to numerous requests from communities and stakeholders throughout New Zealand. These calls came from groups who wanted to see own their communities benefit in the same way that Naenae had through the establishment of the local Academy.
From 2018 BGYF supported a number of boxing programmes at different levels throughout the country; in 2021 the BGYF Affiliate programme was launched to support the ongoing growth and impact that was believed possible. Presently, BGYF consists of both Academies and Affiliates across the four BGYF regions; these are Northern, (Auckland and Northland) Central, (Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki) Capital (Wellington, Hawkes Bay, and Gisborne) and Southern, (including the entire South Island.) Supporting the establishment and ongoing development of BGYF Academies/Affiliates is the National Advisory Service (NAS.) Through the NAS, BGYF will continue to engage with, learn from, and resource many more communities to support their local areas through the vehicle of boxing.
Charitable Purpose
We exist to support local communities throughout Aotearoa to champion young people by providing top quality resources, relationships, pathways, and structures.
Our national team provide resources and learnings to support the establishment and operation of top quality, community-focused boxing gyms.
We combine our expertise in the sport of boxing with the principles of best practice youth development to engage with young people from every background. We do this by creating safe spaces, building friendships, and supporting our members to become Champion people who contribute to their communities.
Participants & Beneficiaries
The most important stakeholders are our tamariki and rangitahi 9 - 18+ years, and their families in their local communities nationwide.
Other participants/beneficiaries include Police (especially local Neighborhood Policing Teams and Youth Aid Services), various youth service providers, community groups, churches, local marae and whanau, cultural leaders and community leaders. BGYF also seek to collaborate with schools, alternative educators, youth justice organisations, local Council, service clubs e.g. Rotary, plus local Academy staff and volunteers.
Billy Graham
Founder, Mentor
Billy Graham
Billy Graham born in Naenae, New Zealand was the winner of four New Zealand titles at light welterweight, plus an Australasian title and the Jameson Belt.
Trained by the legendary Dick Dunn, Billy's amateur career was outstanding. Billy didn't turn pro but in the late 1960s Bob Jones wrote the following about young Billy:
“Wellington boxing fans should mark down young Billy Graham in the back of their minds as a future professional champion who will fill their Town Hall, for the Hutt Valley boxer is showing all the signs of following in the footsteps of two post-war greats in Barry Brown and Manuel Santos. At 18, Billy Graham in the nick of time for the W.B.A, who currently sadly lacks a local hero, is an amateur prospect with all the necessary qualifications to make the grade in the professional ring after perhaps another year in the amateurs.”
When he was 28 his coach told him it was time to stop boxing. Billy left boxing after 20 years in the ring. At the age of 57 Billy founded the Naenae Boxing Academy in Naenae, New Zealand.