By Minal Singh
Northwest Asian Weekly
Winnie Che and Chris Dawn
Winnie Che has long been an active member of the International District community. If you go to the Greenland, Inc. offices located on Weller Street in the Eng Suey Family Plaza, you will see their health tonic Naturin 2 stacked in bright green boxes and you will see photos of Che with many dignitaries and famous people, such as Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, and Henry Kissinger.
Che is modest, though, and speaks humbly about her role as Founder & CEO of her company.
From her beginnings as a newly arrived refugee to Seattle, Che has built a strong and happy company as well as a strong and happy family. Her story and her family’s story are a testimony of the American dream.
Her husband, Chris Dawn, is her business and life partner. Together they have three children, Fiona, Austin, and Gigi.
Their company began in 1992. However, their family has deep roots in the Seattle Community, especially in the International District. They had the first karaoke venue in Chinatown. The folks in the neighborhood got to know Winnie and Chris because they had a restaurant called Little Saigon.
In 1989, Winnie was diagnosed with second stage breast cancer. She was only 32.
“She told my father that she would rather die than go through chemotherapy again,” Fiona Dawn explained. Indiana University of Medicine approached Che to develop and provide an alternative therapy in the form of a health tonic. The results of this therapy were remarkable
The hair she lost began to grow back. She no longer experienced chills or vomiting, and her youth began to return.
After her recovery, these scientists and nutritional professionals collaborated with Che to provide a formula that she could manufacture herself. In this way Naturin 2 was born, and Che was then able to become an ambassador of living a healthy approach to life. In her role as CEO of her company, Che is able to travel around the world and share her survivor story and share the product that helped her have a second chance at living a good life. (end)
Minal Singh can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.