She was the youngest child and only daughter of Gertrude and George Temple. Like most Americans during that time, the family struggled to make ends meet. While George's bank manager job was in jeopardy, Gertrude read about salaries child actors received. She set out to make Shirley a star.

At age 3, Shirley attended Meglin's Famous Kiddies Dance Studio that also taught singing and acting. Movie director Charles Lamont visited the studio to recruit young talent. After he coaxed Shirley out from her hiding place behind the piano, he felt there was something special about her. She and other kids were invited to take a screen test at the new Educational Film Company. It produced weekly inexpensive short films called Baby Burlesks, where preschoolers played the roles of famous adult stars. Such roles would be considered highly offensive today.

Shirley was cast as an understudy for her first film, War Babies. When the young leading lady became ill, Shirley began her epic film career. Since she hadn't learned to read yet, her mother would recite scripts aloud, so Shirley could memorize her lines. Before each scene her mother would remind her to, "Sparkle, Shirley, sparkle!" Within a year and a half, Shirley starred in 7 more films for Educational, earning $40 a week. When production stopped she was out of work.

At age 6, when Shirley auditioned for a small role in Stand Up and Cheer for Fox Film Studios, she sang while tap-dancing on top of a piano and won the role. When the film was produced, it ended with actor James Dunn singing Baby, Take a Bow and Shirley dancing through his legs singing Daddy, Take a Bow. This catapulted her to stardom.

That year, for her performance in Bright Eyes, she won the first Academy Award ever presented to a child. The film introduced her signature song, On the Good Ship Lollipop. The mini Oscar came with the message, "This award is bestowed because Shirley Temple brought more happiness to millions of children than any other child of her years in the history of the world." A quote from the US Congress said that Shirley was "the most beloved individual in the world." For a 15 cent movie ticket, Shirley's infectious optimism cheered a nation troubled by the Great Depression. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed that "as long as our country has Shirley Temple, we will be alright." Shirley was the youngest person ever spotlighted on the cover of Time magazine and the youngest person listed in Who's Who.

Although her fan club membership reached four million, with even a department store Santa Claus asking for her autograph, life wasn't easy for America's 6-year-old sweetheart. She made six other movies that year, totaling 20, working five hours each day and eight on Saturdays. She spent three hours each day tutored at the studio. Never complaining, Shirley said, "I thought every child worked." She wasn't allowed to play with other children unless an adult was present. This was to prevent her from being kidnapped for ransom. Shirley was mobbed everywhere she went, and fans yanked at her hair hoping to get one of her famous curls.

By age 12, she performed in 44 films and 57 during her total acting career. During her adult years, Shirley Temple Black was appointed a representative to the UN, served as Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and as US Chief of Protocol. Her autobiography, Child Star, was published in 1988.

At age 7, Cody came home from North Edwardsburg Public School one day, in tears. He told him mom that his classmate Brenna needed a new heart. Cody asked if he could "buy" a new one? His mother explained that although he could not buy Brenna a new heart, he could help raise money for one. Cody decided to help his friend by participating in the "Jump Rope for Heart" school fund raising campaign for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Cody knew he would need help from others, so he asked his mom and the North Grenville community. Cody and his letter containing a drawing of a heart as well as his photo and Brenna's helped raised $2,500. The foundation was so surprise that a 7 year old could be that willing to do something for a friend that they presented Cody with a plaque for extraordinary and outstanding fundraising.

The next month, Cody learned that the government was planning to move the Cardiac Unit at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to Toronto. Since Brenna was a patient at CHEO, Cody wanted to do something about this. He asked his mom, "What do adults do when they want to get things done?" She told him that many people start with a petition. Cody put together a petition and gave speeches at 12 schools asking children to help him keep CHEO's Cardiac Unit in Ottawa. After getting 2,500 signatures on his petition, he brought it to MPP, Dalton McGuinty, (now Premier of Ontario) and asked him to give it to Tony Clement with hope of changing his mind. So far, the unit has remained open, and Cody likes to think that this is due partly to his petition and the children on North Grenville who decided to help him.

By the time his mother picked him up to bring him home, Jacob found a solution to his problem. "I have my invention for the school's Invention Convention," he announced. "It's a baseball bat that I can put the balls inside, so I don't forget them any more." As soon as Jacob arrived home, he went into the garage in search of an old plastic baseball bat. With his mother's help, he cut off the larger end and dropped his baseballs inside, then sealed it closed with a piece of Styrofoam, and the JD Batball was born.

He unveiled his new bat at the Natchaug Elementary School Invention Convention. Jacob's Batball was such a hit that his teacher, Dianne Cerreto, encouraged his parents to patent the idea.

Mrs. Dunnack contacted a person at Toys "R" Us who like the idea but explained that a prototype was needed before the store could consider it. With help from engineering friend, Peter Wood of ZZorco Consulting, a model of the baseball bat was made. When Jacob's family met with Toys "R" Us buyers, an order was taken even though the Batball hadn't yet been manufactured.

When Jacob's Batball went into production, he make a few more executive decisions. It would be blue, his favorite color, and hold three yellow balls to represenst the three children in his family: his brother Jacian, his sister Jaelyn, and himself. Jacob's idea became a reality in the fall of 2001 and is now sold in 1200 Toys "R" Us stores across the United States. The Dunnacks started a home-based business, Jacob Sportz, to market the JD Batball.

She trains at the Dojo everyday for an hour. Half the week she focuses on Close-Range Defense and half is spent on Sparring. She also trains at home.

Due to her skills and stamina, Ashley was chosen as Karate Kidz Online Student of the Month for October 2002. She is looking forward to getting involved in acting, singing, modeling, and has overcome much adversity in her life over the past few years. She lost her grandmother, one of the closest people to her and shortly afterward lost her father. She almost lost her mother, who worked for the American Stock Exchange near the World Trade Center, during the September 11 attack. Ashley, who had attended the nursery in the WTC, knew at few of the victims.

Ashley is adjusting to a new town and new life. She is getting stronger and doesn't let herself get crushed by her circumstances. She is always the kid who is trying to help other kids when they are having trouble with school work or on the playground. Last Christmas, she accompanied Mr. Velazquez during his shopping trip to purchase toys and games for The River Fund, a non-profit organization that helps disabled and mentally challenged children. Ashley cried because she felt so bad for the kids and wished she could be more helpful to them. Ashley was Mr. Velazques inspiration for establishing the international Karate Kidz Online. Ashley was recently featured on the nationally recognized Amazing Kids! and spotlighted as one of Amazing Karate Kids! for November.