Meet The Team

Claudia Wheeler, a nonprofit pioneer, public school teacher, and U.S. Navy veteran, is the inspiring founder and Executive Director of the SALT Foundation, Inc. Her unwavering dedication to fighting food insecurity has touched the lives of countless New Jerseyans and inspired positive change across the state.

For over 14 years, Ms. Wheeler has been at the forefront of collecting and delivering over 330,000 pounds of nutritious food, along with clothing and supplies, to various community organizations and individuals in need. Through partnerships with supermarkets, retail stores, farms, and food suppliers, she has traveled over 200,000 miles to ensure that healthy food, which would otherwise go to waste, reaches those who need it most. On average, SALT Foundation picks up and distributes 7,600 pounds of food each week, making a substantial impact on reducing waste and alleviating hunger.

During the challenging peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Wheeler and SALT Foundation stepped up to the plate, distributing over 12,400 bags of healthy food, household goods, and clothing to underserved individuals and families through weekly giveaway events. These efforts held particular significance in Jersey City, where an alarming amount of food goes to waste each year, while many residents suffer from food insecurity. Ms. Wheeler's dedication extended beyond Jersey City, as she partnered with various locations in neighboring cities to organize mobile food pantry giveaway events.

Recognizing her exceptional community service and heroic acts, Ms. Wheeler was honored with the prestigious Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award in 2023. She was also recognized as a 2023 Pandemic She-ro by the Jersey City Women’s Advisory Board. Further accolades include being named Woman of the Month by both the Business Women Networking Involving Charity & Education and the Allegheny East Conference. The global fundraising network GoFundMe and the social impact company Upworthy featured Ms. Wheeler and SALT Foundation in a story and podcast titled "This Woman Delivered So Much Food to People in Need, Her Car Literally Broke Down." Additionally, SALT Foundation received the 2021 Top-Rated Award from GreatNonprofits.

Ms. Wheeler's work and SALT Foundation's impact have garnered attention from various media outlets, including NBC Live, the Star Ledger, Jersey Journal, NJ.com, FDU Magazine, The Ukrainian Weekly, Visitor Magazine, and Hudson Reporter. She also serves as a member of the advisory group for the Stockton University "Food Asset Inventory and Mapping Project," which aims to understand food waste generation, identify food insecurity hotspots, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through composting and food recovery in New Jersey.

As a Navy veteran and an elementary school teacher in Trenton Public Schools for the past 12 years, Ms. Wheeler's passion for serving others extends beyond her nonprofit work. With a bachelor's degree in Political Science and two master's degrees in Administrative Science and Elementary Education, all earned from Fairleigh Dickinson University, she combines her diverse skills and experiences to make a lasting difference in the lives of those she serves.

Claudia Wheeler's tireless dedication and profound impact through the SALT Foundation exemplify a true embodiment of compassion, resilience, and the power of community service. Her commitment to alleviating hunger and supporting those in need serves as an inspiration to us all.

Ms. Foster is a forward-thinking operations executive with over 15 years of demonstrated success for multi-billion dollar Brick & Mortar businesses within the retail and tech sectors. Ms. Foster was responsible for optimizing business financials through P&L management, evaluating sales metrics and maximizing operational excellence by curating sales strategies, managing leaders' competencies, and technological solutions to drive bottom-line results. 

Ms. Foster is also a certified journalist and contributes to a number of cultural and lifestyle publications for Los Angeles and the New York areas. Ms. Foster sits on the

Board of Directors for two non-profit organizations. Haven Adolescent Community Respite, a youth non-profit organization that provides counseling, positive opportunities for youth development, and peer support for adolescents and their families. And Salt Foundation INC, a non-profit organization which preserves food and family by making the modern food system go further. Coordinating with multi-billion dollar supermarket chains to rescue and deliver food, in a timely basis, that would be otherwise discarded.

Chef Nikko changes peoples lives in 24 hours. He is an author and as a profession, he is a nutritional coach and consultant for over 27 years. Teaching CEO’s, high-end entrepreneurs, small business owners and the general public a more healthy balanced relationship with food. By coding and charting where plant-based electrical elements want to go, lay-over or settle in the human mind and body.

 

Currently, Chef Nikko is “The Trusted Partner and Nutritional Expert for The Retired NFL Players Congress”. In addition, he is the Executive Director of Domestic and International Affairs for “The  SALT Foundation”. Which is a non-profit organization, with one clear mission. To rescue food from our privatized farms and corporate supermarket partnerships and give fresh premium food (100% free) to disadvantaged communities. We are saving  families over $600 a week in groceries.

Lastly, my company is a part of “The Food Security Task Force” in Hudson County, New Jersey.

 

Now, all of this is said not to impress you, but to impress upon you, that we can all make an impact in our community (domestic & abroad). Big or small, impact is impact! Therefore, inspire yourself to speak with thought leaders and share your ideas to foster new solutions.

Mr. Kane brings nearly a decade of experience working hand in hand with CEO’s and world-class leading specialist within the Finance, Insurance, Commercial Real Estate, Tech, Energy, Cannabis and Hemp Industries. Before entering the cannabis industry, 

Mr. Kane gained over 7 years experience facilitating connections between buyers and sellers of private off market commercial real estate properties, developments and specialty assets. He spent multiple years, previous to that, at a financial institution consulting clients. 

Mr. Kane’s expertise also includes the non-profit sector. Developing strategies, financial planning and business development for organizations in New Jersey and New York City. Currently, he teaches and mentors, at-risk youth within disenfranchised communities and curated the first Entrepreneurial Program for I AM C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D. Inc. Mr. Kane sits on the Board of Directors for SALT Foundation INC. A non-profit organization which preserves food and family by making the modern food system go further. Coordinating with multi-billion dollar supermarket chains to rescue and deliver food, in a timely basis, that would be otherwise discarded.