PHE, Inc. Named Business Of The Year

At its monthly luncheon, held at the Triangle Sportsplex in Hillsborough on Wednesday, December 21, the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of its Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year and Helping Hand Awards.

The Business of the Year Award recipient is PHE, Inc. What began as a master's thesis in 1969 - selling condoms by mail - quickly evolved into a $90 million empire known today as Adam & Eve. Founded by Phil Harvey and Dr. Tim Black, the company became a leader in promoting birth control services through non-medical channels. Adam & Eve maintains a high level of customer service satisfaction and stocks a broad range of quality, sex-positive materials, available discreetly by mail. The company reaches nearly five million customers annually through its catalog and website, and remains the nation's leading adult mail order retailer. Founder Phil Harvey divides his time between Adam & Eve and DKT International, a not-for-profit organization located in Washington, DC. DKT International provides family planning, health care and sex education materials to eight third world countries in Asia, Africa and South America.

The company employs nearly 375 people, making it one of Orange County's largest employers. It has been in Orange County for 35 years, and in Hillsborough for more than 11 years. In addition to being one of the Chamber's Foundation Club sponsors, PHE also contributes to and supports many local and national non-profit efforts, including Hillsborough's Turnip Patch Park, Special Olympics of NC, Orange High School, the Hillsborough Rotary Club, Orange County Recreation and Parks, Friends of the Orange County Senior Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Orange County Rescue Squad, Relay for Life, the Hillsborough Firefighters Association, Duke Health Community Care, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and St. Jude's Children's Hospital, to name a few. In addition, employees and the company's matching donations raised over $11,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina, donating the funds to the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity International and the Animal Protection Society of the US.

"The Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce is honored to have PHE, Inc. as a foundation club member and to have this opportunity to recognize PHE for its good corporate citizenship and generous support of so many worthy causes in Orange County," said Margaret Wood Cannell, Chamber Executive Director.