Subject: Re: Guests for 2/19
From: "Valerie Owens" <[email-masked]>
To: "Patty Dailey Lewis" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Hallie Biden" <[email-masked]>, "Hunter" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2019 11:11:36 -0500

Egos not withstanding- BBF is more important.  Let’s get along and go along- my recommendation is proceed w/ the event.   VBO 

Valerie Biden Owens 

> On Feb 17, 2019, at 11:33 PM, Patty Dailey Lewis <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> Valerie, Hallie, Hunter--
> 
> Below you can read the "back story" by email. But to put things in perspective, here is a timeline:
> 
> March 6, 2018--Event was requested by Joe Cowhey, owner and manager of the Warminster Buck County Shop-Rites to raise money for BBF. He has been a major donor to BBF, he has raised well over $100,000, and will continue to raise in Bucks County. Joe Cowhey raises money, both through his own donations and through vendors he has at the store. The vendors have money to donate to charity, and they donate through the grocery store. Joe had committed to raise $75,000 through the luncheon and another $25,000 through the course of the year. As he requested we do work in Bucks County so that the funding stays to help the community. For example, we have been working with Doylestown Hospital, for the past 10 months. This relationship with Cowhey has been ongoing since the Foundation was established.
> 
> January 2019- Valerie worked to get a date on the VP's calendar- the event is set for February 19th at 12 noon, immediately before the event at UPenn. 
> Josh has built the event, and been the POC for Joe Cowhey and Joe Cowhey's staff.  Josh understood the the event would be a luncheon with vendors. Thats was not what Cowhey's staff sent as the guest list. The guest list, which is below, includes a US District Court Judge-  Judge Mitchell Goldberg (who worked with  Beau at the US Attorneys Office), the current US Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks County), Former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (brother of current congressman,  did not seek re-election because he his fighting cancer), some folks in leadership at Doylestown Hospital, and 20 some other folks that are friends and employees of Cowhey. 
>  
>  Weds., February 13th- Josh had  a conversation with 2 members of Joe Cowhey's staff, Jeanne and Becky,  and questioned why there were no vendors on the list. According to Cowhey and his staff Josh was "rude and arrogant," they were incensed with they way he questioned the guest list.  
> 
> Thurs., February 14th- Josh and I had a teleconference with Joe Cowhey and his staff members, Jeanne and Becky. They basically yelled at us, complaining about Josh's treatment of them and what they deemed as insulting their guests. Obviously Josh apologized over and over again. The conversation ended with them saying they did not know if they could go forward with the luncheon because of this behavior. Josh sent emails to Joe Cowhey, and both staff people, Jeanne and Becky, apologizing for insulting them. 
> 
> Friday February 15th-  10:20am I received a telephone call from Jeanne and Becky. They advised that Joe Cowhey was out of the office but they wanted to let me know that they were canceling the event. They felt they could not be associated with an organization that would be so rude and hurtful to supporters. While they respected the work we had done they were just "done with being mistreated." I thanked them for all they had done for us and hoped they could understand that Josh had apologized and no ill will was ever intended. 
> 
> When the call ended at 10:35am I contacted Josh and asked him to notify the VP office and to cancel the hotel luncheon. Josh did both. The hotel will not refund our deposit and has given us until April 29th to have an event. ***IT SHOULD BE NOTED WE NEED TO CALL THE HOTEL AND REINSTATE THE EVENT. I CANNOT IMAGINE THEY HAVE BOOKED SOMETHING ALREADY, BUT THEY COULD SAY NO.*** 
> 
> Friday February 15th- 7:20pm I received a call from Joe Cowhey explaining  why he decided he could not support BBF any longer, and letting me know he would also be pulling all of the signage in the stores about BBF. I tried to talk him into rethinking that given the work we had done and continue to do. But he would not budge.
> 
> Sunday February 17th- 4:00pm I received a text from Jow Cowhey asking that I contact him, that Congressman Fitzpatrick wanted to talk to me. Congressman Fitzpatrick  explained that he was very very sorry that Joe had called the event off and asked if we would consider reinstating the event. Fitzpatrick was complimentary about the work we were doing and he was hoping we would do more in Bucks County. Fitzpatrick sad if Joe had talked to him on Thursday this would have been averted. ("Too many hot headed Irish guys"). He asked that I please see if the VP would be able to keep the event, even if it was just a half hour. Joe Cowhey was also on the phone and said that he wanted to "make our relationship work." 
> 
> My recommendation is that if the VP is still available we attempt to save the event. I say this for a few reasons- First- the reputation of BBF. I don't want people speaking ill of the Foundation. Second, the money. Cowhey has in hand several thousand dollars and says he will get the rest with a few phone calls. I hope Cowhey will raise what he claims he will raise. He has done it before. But he will need to be talking to vendors tomorrow. Nevertheless he has money. Third, the Bucks County project is important and we have worked hard on this. I believe we can continue to do great work in Bucks County, and in Pennsylvania generally. I'd hate to see this end. Finally, Josh has worked hard on this event and notwithstanding whatever he said to these folks, I am confident he never had a bad intentions. Sometimes he is brusque and arrogant, I understand that. Josh has had a tough few weeks balancing his responsibilities here, losing his grandfather, the worsening illness of his Mother and navigating through this horrible disease of dementia...PLUS expecting a baby in 6 weeks. Josh is very sorry--- he makes no excuse, he said it, he wrote it and I'm not sure their response was proportional. 
> 
> I apologize for this aggravation, so late on a holiday weekend. I will need to call the hotel where the luncheon is to be held first thing tomorrow, so if you could all let me know your position by 9:00am I would appreciate it. 
> 
> Thank you again for your time and counsel. 
> Patty 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Josh Alcorn <[email-masked]>
> Date: Sun, Feb 17, 2019 at 9:38 PM
> Subject: Re: Guests for 2/19
> To: Patty Dailey Lewis <[email-masked]>
> Cc: Kathy Chung <[email-masked]>, Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]>, Melinda Medlin <[email-masked]>
> 
> 
> And I understand the position Patty is in, with both a commitment to the congressman and a responsibility to the board. The fact is: Cowhey cancelled the event. On a Friday, three days before the event. When a host does something like that, and then comes back and tries to make amends, it would be non-profit management malfeasance not to see if the event can be rebuilt. But if you guys have filled that time, there’s nothing we can do. 
> 
> /ja
> 302.598.1885 (cell)
> 
> Sent from my iPhone, which is responsible for any typos. 
> 
>> On Feb 17, 2019, at 9:20 PM, Josh Alcorn <[email-masked]> wrote:
>> 
>> I think this whole back and forth with this guy is ridiculous. 
>> 
>> /ja
>> 302.598.1885 (cell)
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone, which is responsible for any typos. 
>> 
>>> On Feb 17, 2019, at 8:53 PM, Patty Dailey Lewis <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I won’t speak for Josh,  but I don’t think that he agrees that we should attempt to salvage.
>>> 
>>>  I am simply doing what I told Rep. Fitzpatrick I would do. 
>>> We were never not ok with the event—at least I wasn’t.  Cowhey pulled out- not us. 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Sun, Feb 17, 2019 at 8:33 PM Kathy Chung <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>> So you and Josh both think this is a good idea now?  I thought one of the reasons you guys were ok with pulling down was because this was much different than what Cowley originally proposed. And this was not going to raise the money you had originally thought. Now you’re ok with it all?  
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> 
>>>>> On Feb 17, 2019, at 7:57 PM, Patty Dailey Lewis <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sorry- one more thought. One of the guests is US Federal District Judge Mitchell Goldberg. He was a friend of Beau's at the US Attorneys office and he had to get special clearance to attend the event because he is a federal judge. 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sun, Feb 17, 2019 at 7:54 PM Patty Dailey Lewis <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>> I feel if it could be accomplished we should try, but not if it takes some time that has been scheduled away from VP Biden. Given the way this went South I'd like to save it. But I totally understand if you guys think its best to pull the plug. 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Sun, Feb 17, 2019 at 7:28 PM Kathy Chung <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>> What is your recommendation?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Feb 17, 2019, at 4:55 PM, Patty Dailey Lewis <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Kathy--
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Not surprisingly Joe Cowhey--with back-up-- just called me and has had a change of heart, and would now like to put the event back on. He had Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick on the phone as well who was wishing that Cowhey had contacted him on Friday before the event was pulled down. They asked if it was possible to put it back on. Of course, that is not up to me, it is up to your team. I advised them I would reach out and see if the VP's time had already been filled. 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Thanks again for everything. 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Best--
>>>>>>>> Patty
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Feb 12, 2019 at 12:21 PM Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Updated with a handful of new names (listed at the top, in case Sharmeen you’ve already started the research). Just flagging that in addition to former Rep Mike Fitzpatrick, current Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick will attend.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Joshua Alcorn
>>>>>>>>> 302.477.2018 (office)
>>>>>>>>> 302.598.1885 (cell)
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2019, at 3:48 PM, Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Here’s the first batch. All except Janice and Barry Spector are folks from the host, Joe Cowhey. Janice and Barry are (among other things) BBF donors. Cowhey gave us a few slots for friends of ours, and I suspect one of our board members will attend as well.
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks, more to come tomorrow!
>>>>>>>>>> Josh
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Joshua Alcorn
>>>>>>>>>> 302.477.2018 (office)
>>>>>>>>>> 302.598.1885 (cell)
>>>>>>>>>> <190211 Bucks Co Attendees.docx>
>>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2019, at 11:23 AM, Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Roger. Let me see what I can get from the host. Thanks team!
>>>>>>>>>>> Josh
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Joshua Alcorn
>>>>>>>>>>> 302.477.2018 (office)
>>>>>>>>>>> 302.598.1885 (cell)
>>>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2019, at 11:20 AM, Greg Schultz <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Josh - if you can send ASAP it would be helpful -sharmeen has a lot of vetting/research currently going on.  Even if you only have 20 now send them now and then the others as they come in
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> thanks
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2019, at 11:15 AM, Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> That’s correct. Maybe slightly fewer.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joshua Alcorn
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 302.477.2018 (office)
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 302.598.1885 (cell)
>>>>>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2019, at 11:11 AM, Melinda Medlin <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Carla and Sharmeen are copied here for vetting purposes.  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You are still looking at 30 people for next Tuesday, correct? 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thx!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Melinda 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> From: Josh Alcorn <[email-masked]> On Behalf Of Joshua Alcorn
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2019 11:09 AM
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To: Kathy Chung <[email-masked]>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cc: Melinda Medlin <[email-masked]>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: Guests for 2/19
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sorry, I meant for vetting purposes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joshua Alcorn
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 302.477.2018 (office)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 302.598.1885 (cell)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2019, at 11:05 AM, Kathy Chung <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes.  Please include in your memo.  Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> From: Josh Alcorn <[email-masked]> On Behalf Of Joshua Alcorn
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2019 11:05 AM
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To: Melinda Medlin <[email-masked]>; Kathy Chung <[email-masked]>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Guests for 2/19
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi, should have the full list tomorrow. Do I just send it to you guys?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joshua Alcorn
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 302.477.2018 (office)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 302.598.1885 (cell)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Greg Schultz
>>>>>>>>>>>> American Possibilities PAC
>>>>>>>>>>>> Executive Director
>>>>>>>>>>>> 614-204-3617
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>>>> Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esquire
>>>>>>>> Executive Director
>>>>>>>> Beau Biden Foundation for the 
>>>>>>>> Protection of Children
>>>>>>>> [email-masked]
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>> Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esquire
>>>>>> Executive Director
>>>>>> Beau Biden Foundation for the 
>>>>>> Protection of Children
>>>>>> [email-masked]
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -- 
>>>>> Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esquire
>>>>> Executive Director
>>>>> Beau Biden Foundation for the 
>>>>> Protection of Children
>>>>> [email-masked]
>>> -- 
>>> Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esq. Executive Director Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children
> 
> 
> -- 
> Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esquire
> Executive Director
> Beau Biden Foundation for the 
> Protection of Children
> [email-masked]