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Yogurtland pledges to fight human trafficking

Yogurtland's founders will donate a portion of the company’s sales to organizations that rescue and rehabilitate victims of human trafficking.

January 12, 2016

Yogurtland, which opened its first location in February 2006, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday by honoring National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The chain hosted dignitaries, franchisees and partners for a luncheon, while calling attention to the global crisis of human trafficking.

Yogurtland's founders, Phillip and Michelle Chang, also announced plans to donate a portion of the company’s sales to organizations that rescue and rehabilitate victims of human trafficking. Yogurtland will kick off this program with a donation to Exodus Cry, a non-profit that works in the areas of prevention, intervention and holistic restoration of sex trafficking victims in the United States and around the world, according to a company press release.

"Supporting the community is something we try to do quietly, but now more than ever, all of our voices are needed to help end human trafficking," said Phillip Chang, who serves as CEO of Yogurtland and whose wife, Michelle, drives the marketing vision for the business.

Following a visit to Thailand, the Chang’s became passionately involved in the plight of human trafficking victims, particularly women and children. Being grateful for the opportunity afforded them in the United States, the Chang’s have committed personal and professional resources to helping others.

Phillip Chang immigrated to the United States 30 years ago from Korea. He received his undergraduate degree in computer science/math at So-Gang University in South Korea, and began his career in information technology. Michelle came to the U.S. from Korea at age 15, and graduated from CSU, Long Beach, where she studied art. The couple married in 1994, and shortly thereafter Phillip started his own IT consulting business, according to the release.

This ignited his entrepreneurial interest, and he opened his first retail business specializing in teas and boba in 2001. Several years later, he expanded the concept to frozen yogurt and added a topping bar, giving guests the opportunity to create and customize their own frozen yogurt treat. He renamed the shop Yogurtland.

Phillip was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014, and INC. Magazine named the brand to its Inc. 5000 list last year, becoming the first frozen yogurt brand to make the company’s prestigious list of growth companies, according to the release.

Yogurtland has more than 320 locations across 17 states and in five countries including Australia, Dubai, Guam, Thailand and Venezuela.