Newspaper Articles

August 15, 2000 - Choice One contributes $35,000 to lil' iguana's safety foundation

January 26, 2000 - Children's Safety Character lil' iguana releases music CD, Nashua Telegraph

May 23, 1999 - Harsh reality lies behind antics of fantasy character, Boston Globe

May 5, 1999 - Lil' iguana, creation of Nashua man, nominated for 3 Emmys, Nashua Telegraph

Press Releases

April 24, 2000 - lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation Names Board of Directors

April 3, 2000 - lil' iguana Takes Home an International Award

January 27, 2000 - lil' iguana goes digital

December 22, 1999 - lil' iguana announces releases music CD

September 14, 1999 - lil' iguana, international lizard of mystery

June 7, 1999 - lil' iguana takes home an Emmy

Newspaper Articles

Choice One contributes $35,000 to lil' iguana's safety foundation

Nashua Telegraph, August 15, 2000

Rochester, NY - Choice One Communications, which provides phone and Internet Service to businesses, announced that it will donate over $35,000 to Nashua-based lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation. The donation will provide funding for a school-based program promoting telephone and Internet safety to be implemented throughout New England, according to Choice One officials. The program will be directed to children in kindergarten through grade 3.

lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation, started by Jim Tomaszewski, who created the lil' iguana character, operates under the belief that "a safe and happy childhood lasts a lifetime." The foundation created a series of live interactive and creative stage shows for children ages one through eight promoting safety, self-preservation and well being.

Choice One's donation will allow lil' iguana to reach elementary schools and teach children about phone and Internet safety.

Ythan Lax, Choice One spokesman, said:"lil' iguana has developed a program that helps promote the tremendous value of technology in our society while educating children to the do's and don'ts of using the telephone and computer.

Tomaszewski, executive director of lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation, said, "We are grateful to Choice One Communications for helping us to expand and for providing the funding for this new and necessary program." He added, "As children's access to the telephone and Internet expands, they need to learn about how the old adage 'Don't talk to strangers,' applies to today's society that is driven by advanced communication technologies."

The lil' iguana telephone and Internet safety program will reach over 65,000 children in seven markets in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut where Choice One operates.

The program will be comprised of an interactive in-school lesson plan supported by a CD and the lil' iguana traveling stage show.

Children's Safety Character lil' iguana releases music CD

Nashua Telegraph, January 26, 2000

HUDSON - Children's character lil' iguana, the creation of a Nashua entrepreneur, has released its first CD of safety-oriented songs. Lil' iguana's Safety Songs was released late last month according to Jim Tomaszewski, who created the character in 1997.

The CD has been more than a year in the making, he said. Songs were written by Steve MacDonald, a Weymouth, Mass., music teacher, and are performed by children involved in the lil' iguana stage show, which tours New England performing the safety-themed songs and skits at schools and community events, Tomaszewski said.

The CD is offered for sale on the lil' iguana Web site (www.liliguanasafety.org). A portion of the proceeds from the $14.95 CD (it is also offered as a cassette) go to the lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation, a non-profit charity Tomaszewski said he has formed to fund the live-action characters public appearances. Tomaszewski said an interactive CD-ROM is being developed for sale as well.

The CD is the latest development for lil' iguana, which made its way onto television last year when WABU in Boston produced and aired 13 episodes of the lil' iguana show, featuring a costumed actor as lil' iguana and children performing skits.

Tomaszewski said he has managed to barter air time with TV stations in several television markets, including Los Angeles, in an arrangement that the stations his show to air for free in exchange for a few commercials to tout lil' iguana products, he said.

Tomaszewski, whose business recently moved to Hudson, said his company has plans to merchandise lil' iguana products such as books, puzzles, backpacks and other items.

Harsh reality lies behind antics of fantasy character

By Stacy Milbouer, Globe Correspondent Boston Globe, May 23, 1999

NASHUA - In his cluttered office festooned with crayoned thank-you notes, Jim Tomaszewski keeps a potted lily plant in front a newspaper clipping about a child who was slain by sexual predators.

The story about Jeffrey Curley, who was abducted, murdered, sexually abused and discarded in a container two years ago, reminds Tomaszewski why he felt a need to create the fuzzy green character named the Lil' Iguana.

"When I heard about Jeffrey, I was at the Y, working out, and I just burst into tears. When I came to work later that day," he went to a big box " for supplies, and all I could think of was Jeffrey Curley and how it could have been my son, or any other child for that matter."

So Tomaszewski vowed to devote a good portion of his time and resources into helping protect children.

"Its all about kids," said Tomszewski, a tall burly guy who goes to work in shorts and an iguana T-shirt. "Lil' Iguana is about keeping kids safe."

Work for Tomaszewski is his own marketing/screen printing business called J.E.L.T. Inc., an acronym made up from the initials of his wife and children. The company is situated on the bottom half of a four-family residence, smack in between a gas station and a hanger factory in Nashua.

It was here, shortly after the Curley murder, that Tomaszewski created the character that earned him four New England Emmy Award nominations. Since Lil' was "born", he became an instant hit with children and with those working in the area of child safety. Tomaszewski chose the image of an iguana for his quest because at the time it was such a popular household pet.

When a member of the New Hampshire Task Force for the Prevention of Child Abuse spotted the lizard, said Lil's creator, the character took off and so did Tomaszewski and his family, including his three small children. The character has been touring around New England, doing personal appearances in schools, churches and fairs. The message, said Tomaszewski is simple: "A safe and happy childhood lasts a lifetime."

The touring troupe is composed of a woman who plays Lil' Iguana, and children, including Tomaszewski's own son and daughters. It currently makes about 40 appearances each month, singing, dancing and demonstrating for children what safety is all about.

And while the Lil' Iguana portion of his business does not pay the bills - it is a non-profit organization which does its presentations free of charge - Tomaszewski is more than willing to add hours to his work week in the marketing agency to see that anyone who asks that Lil' Iguana come talk to children gets a yes for an answer.

During a recent appearance at St. John Neumann Church in Nashua, Lil', who is a 10-year-old boy iguana, according to his creator, is accompanied by Tomaszewski, who is known to his audiences as Jimmy T. As Lil' Iguana dances and preens with his children co-actors, "Jimmy T" leads the group in original safety songs, like "Do the Iguana."

"I'm Lil' Iguana and I'm here to say
you can have fun in a safe way.
Put safety first and you will see
how happy that your life can be."

It's not long before Jimmy T. is telling children what to do if a stranger offers them ice cream. This too is accompanied by a lizard dance and an original song, "Run, Yell and Tell."

"Run, yell and tell.
Run, yell and tell.
When approached by a stranger
this will keep you from danger
If you run, yell and tell.
Let someone know!"

The character and its message caught on so quickly that WABU-TV (Channel 68) in Boston agreed to produce a television show starring the green iguana character. The show has been on for a year, airing Saturday mornings at 8, and has become a popular as well as critical hit.

Just recently it was nominated for three New England Emmys for children's programming, and a fourth Emmy went to J.E.L.T., Tomaszewski's advertising business, for developing the character.

In addition to being affiliated with the New Hampshire Child Abuse Prevention Task Force, Lil' Iguana is also a symbol used by the Massachusetts Safety Officers League and the Massachusetts Governor Highway Safety Bureau among others.

Tomaszewski gets hand written letters and photographs from the children in his audiences nearly every day, but he said he didn't know until recently if the message was really getting through to children as much as he had hoped. A call from the mother of a 3-year old boy solved the mystery.

"The call came three days after we did the show at a day-care center." he said. "Apparently a little boy in the audience had been taken by force earlier in the week by a teenager he knew, and was tied up and molested." His assailant threatened to kill the boy and his family if he told anyone. The boy's mother said her son was acting strangely for a couple of days but wouldn't tell her why.

But on the day after he saw Tomaszewski's show, the boy told his mother what happened, and prefaced the discussion by saying, "Lil' Iguana would want me to tell."

Tomaszewski believes the earlier a child learns these lessons the better. But he's also aware that older children can use a role model too.

He has developed a cousin character for older children and teenagers called Smokin' Iguana. "Smokin' as in cool, not tobacco," said Tomaszewski.

"Smokin' is much more realistic looking than his kid cousin Lil'." Tomaszewski said. "He wears rose colored glasses and a friendly but cool smile."

"I think teenagers, especially boys, have to learn what we learned, but which seems to be missing now - about right and wrong. About nice to your neighbors. About chivalry. And I think a cool character like Smokin' really teaches them."

Tomaszewski dreams that one day he can devote all his time to the side of his work that helps children. "I just love running around with them singing and dancing and teaching them to be safe."

Lil' iguana, creation of Nashua man, nominated for 3 Emmys

May 5, 1999 - Nashua Telegraph

NASHUA - The lil' iguana Show, the brainchild of Nashua entrepreneur Jim Tomaszewski airing Saturday mornings on WABU-TV (Ch. 68) in Boston, has been nominated for three New England Emmy Awards for children's television, Tomaszewski said.

A fourth nomination went to J.E.L.T. Inc., Tomaszewski's Nashua design company for that developed the lil' iguana character, for graphics and set design. The awards will be handed out June 5 in Boston, Tomaszewski said.

Tomaszewski came up with the green live-action creature about three years ago to promote children's safety. The character makes appearances at civic events, schools and fairs around New England, teaching childhood safety issues and promoting the message that "A Safe and Happy Childhood Lasts a Lifetime!"

Last year, the Boston television station agreed to produce and air the show on Saturday's at 8 a.m., and the show quickly caught on with children and their parents, Tomaszewski said.

Past awards for lil' iguana include the 1998 Massachusetts Broadcaster's Association Award for best children's program; two KidsFirst! Endorsements given by the Coalition for Quality Children's Media, a non-profit organization in Santa Fe, NM; and the Parent's Choice Approval Award given by the Parent's Choice Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Newton, MA.

Press Releases

Lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation Names Board of Directors

Hudson, NH - The lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation announces the formation of its Board of Directors. The Nashua-based organization has recruited ten community and business leaders to guide the fast-growing program into the future.

The lil' iguana's Childrens Safety Foundation is a non-profit organization which strives to educate children on a variety of safety issues. Through music, storytelling and informative skits, the Foundaton delivers its message in 9 states to children ages eighteen months to seven years old.

The following now serve as members of the lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundaton:

Leon Barry, Chairman: Barry has been the owner and operator of Nashua GLass for 33 years. He serves as a member of the Nashua Rotary Club and is the former director of the youth ministry at St. John's Junior High School in Hudson, NH.

Steven A. Bolton, Vice-Chairman: Bolton is an attorney with Bolton Law Offices in Nashua, NH. He also serves as a Nashua city alderman.

Julie A Boilard, Treasurer: Boilard is employed as an office manager and network admistrator at an area construction company.

Denise J. Hurt, Secretary: Hurt is the owner of MiniTime, Inc., specializing in desktop publishing and personnel services for small businesses. She is a former program director for the Nashua Girls Club.

Martin H. Fabian: Fabian is a registered representative of securites and financial planning with W.S. Griffith & Co. Inc. He is past president of Nashua Rotary - West and sits on the Board of Directors for the Nashua Senior Activities Center.

Morton E. Goulder: Goulder is one of the founders of Lockheed Sanders. In his retirement, he is now a trustee of Franklin Pierce Law School. He is a former Board member of the Nashua YMCA and the Adult Learning Center of New Hampshire.

Edward L. Hahn: Hahn is a partner with the law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, specializing in corporate securities and finance law.

Robert A. LeRette: LeRette serves as Director of Marketing Services at Eastlantic Advertising in Manchester, NH. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Merrimack Crimeline.

Harold Lurie: Lurie is a WW II Marine Corp veteran. He spent 25 years working at Trans World Airlines in various management roles.

Earl S. Prolman: Prolman has been in the business and insurance planning business since 1962. He is one of the founders of the NH Make a Wish Foundation and is a former Board member of the Nashua YMCA.

Lil' iguana Takes Home an International Award for Children's Programming

Hudson, NH - lil' iguana, Inc. has been awarded a Silver Cinema in Industry (CINDY) Award for their efforts in children's programming. The international recognition comes after an episde of "The lil' iguana Show" earned a Gold Award in the CINDY regional competition last fall. The episode titled "lil' iguana: The Lost Note", beat out all other entries to from Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States to move on to the international competition.

"The lil' iguana Show" is a live-action, half hour children's television program, featuring puppets and live characters. The show is broadcast in 16 states, or 30% of the United States, and internationally in Singapore. "The lil' iguana Show" aims to teach children safety and other lessons through stories, songs and skits featuring the lil' iguana cast of characters.

In the "Lost Note", lil' iguana and his friends start singing a song only to realize that the last note is missing. The award-winning episode follows the characters as they search for the note, learning lessons about music theory in the process.

"The goal of the show is to use entertainment to educate kids about a wide range of safety issues and other lessons," said Jim Tomaszewski, lil' iguana's creator. "We are thrilled to have been recognized with the CINDY Award, because it proves that our efforts to create a fun and informative educational show are really working." The "lil' iguana Show" has received many honors since its broadcast debut, including a New England Emmy, Parent's Choice Honors, two KidsFirst! Endorsements, the FCC Friendly Rating and the Massachusetts Broadcasters' Association Award for Best Children's Television.

lil' iguana, Inc. is the merchandising and licensing agent for the lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation (LICSF), a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote childhood safety and well being. "The lil' iguana Show" is being offered to public and commercial television stations at no cost. Sponsorship opportunities for "the lil' iguana Show" are available by calling

Lil' iguana goes digital

HUDSON - lil' iguana, Inc. announces that it has signed a contract with KSBN Safe TV™ to broadcast the lil' iguana Show, its award winning children's television series, nationwide via the Sky Angel Satellite Network. The lil' iguana Show can also be seen in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont on WNDS in Derry, NH and WMUR in Manchester, NH, in Florida on WHDT in West Palm Beach and in Missouri on WHSL in St. Louis. The lil' iguana Show is produced in association with the lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization founded to promote childhood safety.

Lil' iguana announces release of music CD

HUDSON - lil' iguana, Inc. announces the release of its exciting new CD of children's safety songs, lil' iguana's Safety Songs, Volume 1. The disc was produced to help support the lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization which travels across New England teaching children from one to eight years old about important safety issues. The CD is a compilation of the original skits and music from the stage show. The disc is available through the lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation's website at www.liliguanasafety.org for $14.95 plus shipping and handling

Lil' iguana, international lizard of mystery

NASHUA - lil' iguana, Inc. announces that on October 1, its award winning television series, the lil' iguana Show, will begin airing in Singapore, on Singapore Cablevison Limited. The agreement was brokered by lil' iguana, Inc.'s agent, Alice International Holdings of Los Angeles, CA. The lil' iguana Show is produced in association with the lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization founded to promote childhood safety.

Lil' iguana takes home an Emmy

NASHUA - The lil' iguana Show, a weekly children's television series, won an Emmy award this weekend at the annual Boston/New England Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences award ceremony at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. The Emmy, for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Set Design, was one of four nominations for the Show, which is the creation of Nashua entrepreneur Jim Tomaszewski. The lil' iguana Show, a production of lil' iguana Inc., is produced in association with the lil' iguana's Children's Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization founded to promote childhood safety.