Who is Charlotte Figi: The Girl Who Changed the World

Charlotte’s influence cannot be understated. Her impact extends far beyond the company that was named for her; it has truly spread across the world.    

By the courageous act of living, Charlotte changed lives, expanded hope and shattered expectations. In her short life, she grew, protected by love and demanding that the world witness her suffering so that they might find a solution. 

Charlotte’s experience became a shared experience. The light she held up for the world to see — that a plant compound could drastically change her life and the lives of thousands of others —changed laws in almost every single state legislature, helped establish two meaningful national farm bills that changed access to hemp for all Americans, and continues to shine on the lives of thousands worldwide.

The journey started when Charlotte’s mother, Paige Figi met Joel Stanley, and Charlotte, with written permission from her pediatrician, first used the extract from the Stanley Brothers (now called Charlotte’s Web Original Formula).  Word spread to Heather Jackson who met the Stanleys and gave the formula to her son, Zaki, who became the second child to benefit from the extract. In August 2013: CNN’s Weed 1 airs, telling the story of Charlotte and her response to the Stanley Brothers’ extract. As word spread, in 2013 the Stanley Brothers, Paige Figi and Heather Jackson founded the nonprofit Realm of Caring to ensure all families had support as they began using the hemp extract.  

In March 2014 CNN’s Weed 2 airs, following up on Charlotte’s story and showing that there are so many other people like Charlotte.  By the end of 2014, there is a list that has grown to 15,000 families waiting for bottles of the Stanleys’ extract.  And in this whole time, from 2012 to 2015, the Charlotte’s Web founders, employees and those at the Realm of Caring help 500+ families move to CO to access CBD. (“We stopped counting at 500,” – per Heather Jackson.) Those families are known as the Colorado Refugees—families seeking options that were only available in Colorado at the time.

April 7^th is Charlotte Figi Day in Colorado, decreed by Governor Jared Polis two weeks after Charlotte’s passing in 2020. As we pause to remember her light, we stand in awe of how far reaching her impact has been.  

With Charlotte as our namesake and guiding light, we are compelled to do more for more people. In recognition of Charlotte’s impact, we created the Charlotte Figi Family Grant Program. Ten family grants were awarded in 2022 on the ten-year anniversary of the Stanley brothers providing their full spectrum hemp extract to Charlotte Figi after her pediatrician supplied written permission. Each year on Charlotte Figi Day, we increase the number of grants by one annually. Each family receives a year’s supply of Charlotte’s Web product to support their overall health and wellness.

This year’s granted family was selected by the nonprofit Realm of Caring based on families with the greatest need from across the country.

More about our partners: 

The Realm of Caring was created to illuminate the path for others. The charitable foundation still leads the way in Cannabis Research, Education, and Support—for all. Their care professionals serve thousands of inquiries each year about cannabinoids, with clients in 68 countries. Their clients are anywhere in age from infancy to 75+

We believe passionately in the Realm of Caring’s mission and continue to support them in their mission to improve lives.  We have donated over $3 million dollars since 2018 in addition to product donations to support the light they bring to thousands around the world. 

It is through the Realm of Caring that we’re able to meet amazing people like Avery and so many more.