Q: How did Publishers Clearing House begin? Where, and by whom? Have their finances ever been made public? Where do those millions come from? Who provided the original investment?
—Lance DeLoach, Thomaston
A: Harold Mertz and his family founded Publishers Clearing House in 1953 in their home in Port Washington, N.Y.
Mertz started the company by sending out “multiple magazine subscription offers in one mailing envelope (instead of one subscription offer per envelope),” the company blog states at blog.pch.com.
PCH added the sweepstakes in 1967.
The company’s revenue streams “are online and mobile advertising and the sale of merchandise and magazines,” its website states.
“All of PCH game and sweepstakes promotions are free to enter and free to win,” a spokesman told Q&A on the News in an email.
PCH, which has about 400 full-time employees, is a limited liability company. Several charitable trusts hold ownership in PCH.
Q: Georgia football coach Kirby Smart was interviewed after a win this season. I was shocked to hear him use a four-letter cuss word. How can I get through to Smart’s powers that be? This use of foul language on TV doesn’t set a good example for children and others.
—Sarah Westbrook, Cumming
A: You can send your comments to ad@sports.uga.edu, a UGA athletic department spokesman told Q&A on the News in an email.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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