Ameyo “Olivia” Codije got the Outstanding Student Philanthropist Award. She’s a third-year student at Queens University of Charlotte. The Association of Fundraising Professionals Charlotte gave her this honor at their National Philanthropy Day celebration on Nov. 13. Her work helps people without enough food and young people who don’t have homes.
Codije coordinates Room in the Inn through Belk Chapel. She’s the first junior to get this job — most of the time, seniors do it.
The double-major studies psychology and data analytics. She came to the school as a Charlotte Talent Initiative scholar. Born in Togo, West Africa, she grew up in North Carolina and got help from the Ally Financial cohort.
As a North Carolina Collegiate Hunger Challenge Ambassador, Codije ran fundraising drives and donation campaigns. They got a new refrigerator for the campus food pantry! The appliance lets the pantry keep perishable items and give students more choices. She put together a student cook-off where teams made meals using ingredients from the campus pantry, which sparked talks about college students not having enough food.
“I came to Queens for the small school feel, but instead, I found myself being accepted into a large family that has uplifted and supported me every step of the way,” Codije said, per Queens.edu. “I’ve learned that food insecurity is a solvable problem, and it is an issue that I am committed to fighting against.”
Queens University Chaplain Adrian Bird put Codije’s name in for the award. Bird had good things to say about her service. “Olivia was someone who was drawn to these opportunities, and that really showed us a little bit about her heart, her heart to serve,” said Bird. “With great compassion, she had that natural heartbeat to want to look out for other people.”
Codije worked as an intern with The Merancas Foundation in Charlotte. This group invests in nonprofits that help people in crisis. She came up with strategic planning ideas for nonprofit growth and volunteers with Nourish Up, which provides groceries and meals to residents in Mecklenburg County.
The event also honored alumna Claire Lechtenberg with the Outstanding Emerging Fundraising Professional Award. Lechtenberg raised over $1 million in two years for The Independent Picture House, Charlotte’s only nonprofit arthouse cinema.