First Book/Le Premier Livre is led by Executive Director, Carol Anne Ruscica

Before joining First Book, Carol Anne Ruscica spent more than a decade working in marketing and fundraising for organizations in social service, healthcare and education. Carol Anne has held positions with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto, Ryerson University, DVA Navion as well as the Canadian Diabetes Association and has directed both annual programs and capital campaigns. She now leads the expansion and vision of First Book/LePremier Livre, a registered Canadian charity with offices in Toronto, providing new books and educational materials to Canadian children from low-income families.

Since joining First Book/Le Premier Livre in 2009, Carol Anne's enthusiasm, energy and drive has lead FB/LPL to distribute more than 45,000 free books to children across Canada.  An avid reader herself, Carol Anne is excited by the challenge of building First Book National Book Bank and First Book Marketplace for Canadian programs and children who need access to books the most.

Her favorite children’s book is The Little Prince. Her favorite Canadian children’s book is a book of children's poetry called Alligator Pie written by Dennis Lee and illustrated by Frank Newfeld, which won Book of the Year from the Canadian Library Association in 1975.