Black Elk Energy announces the success of its 2^nd Annual Empowering the Community charity event

Houston, TX – 28 May 2010 – Black Elk Energy, an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Houston, is proud to announce the success of its second annual Empowering the Community charity event.  The two-day event took place on May 16^th and 17^th at Willow Fork Country Club in Katy, TX and included a golf tournament and Black Elk’s first barbecue, chili and gumbo cook-off. 

 The event was held to benefit the Louisiana Association of Community Action Partnerships (LACAP), an organization that assists over 750,000 residents of Louisiana annually.  Proceeds from this year’s Empowering the Community event will be used by LACAP to enhance and operate their new training center in Baton Rouge, which endows individuals with the skills necessary to weatherize homes and creates a multitude of green jobs.  Since opening the doors to the center in Fall 2009, LACAP has trained nearly 200 individuals and looks to more than double that number by the end of 2010.  As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Louisiana was tasked with the goal to weatherize an additional 5,000 low-income homes by March 2012.  LACAP will also use some of the proceeds from the Black Elk event to meet that milestone. 

 As a result of the charitable contributions and personal efforts made by so many people in the energy industry, Black Elk Energy was able to donate $116,000 to LACAP.  Specifically, sponsors of the second annual Empowering the Community included the following companies:

DIAMOND LEVEL SPONSORS

• ND Trak and Sempcheck (Co-Sponsors)
• Grand Isle Shipyard
• Knight Oil Tools
• Freedom Well Services

 PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS

• Schlumberger
• Oceaneering International
• Greene's Energy
• M & H Energy Services

 GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS

• Helmer Directional Drilling
• Tubular Solutions, Inc. and Deep Water Solutions (Co-Sponsors)
• Superior Energy Service-Marine Division and Warrior Energy (Co-Sponsors)
• Sparrows Group and Unlimited Supply, Inc. (Co-Sponsors)
• Blanchard Contractors and Hamilton Group (Co-Sponsors)
• Gulf Offshore Logistics
• Cross Group
• Laredo Construction and HB Rentals (Co-sponsors)

SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS

• Abandonment Consulting Services
• Montco Offshore Liftboats
• Icon Bank
• Transparent Energy
• Kongsberg (Double-Silver Sponsors)
• Wood Group Production Service
• Danos & Curole
• Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure Group
• Stephens, Inc.
• Bob Craig & Mary Wolf - Friends of Louisiana
• Absolute Energy Solutions and Supreme Services (Co-Sponsors)
• Alliant Insurance and John R. Roy & Sons (Co-Sponsors)
• Shamrock Management, LLC
• Liskow & Lewis
• ESSI Corporation
• Nabors Offshore
• BESCO Tubular
• Quality Energy Services
• Production Services Network
• Caprock Communication

BEVERAGE CART SPONSORS

• Ensley Properties
• FalckAlford
• Creel & Associates
• Safety Management Systems

COOK-OFF TEAMS

• Danos & Curole
• Southern Steel & Supply
• Tetra Offshore
• Hamilton Group
• Quality Process Services, LLC
• Aqueos Diving
• Halliburton
• Bolt Tech Mannings
• Quality Energy Services
• Southern States Offshore
• Rig Net
• ND Trak and Sempcheck (Co-Sponsors)
• Wadleigh Group
• Katy Spring
• Cranford Coalition
• Proserv
• Powerhouse Compression Services and A-Pro Industries

HONORARY SPONSORS

• DEEPFOTO Photography
• Red Leaf Marketing Group
• Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc.
• PHI, Inc.
• Sylvia's Cafe
• Fluid Crane & Construction, Inc.
• Nevis Energy
• Newpark Drilling
• Champion Technology
• ECL
• Lolita and Jim Howell
• ES&H Consulting & Training Group
• Hollingsworth Richards Ford
• Stallion Oilfield Services

“We are thrilled to have raised such a large sum for donation to LACAP and look forward to continuing our relationship”, says John Hoffman, President and CEO of Black Elk Energy.  “I’d like to give a special note of appreciation to all of our sponsors who helped us realize our goal.  I would also like to thank John Daly, Paola Moreno, Mina Harigae, Kevin Black and the Saints Cheerleaders for truly making this event special.  Giving back to the community is an essential element of responsible business for Black Elk Energy and we look forward to a bigger and better event next year.” 

“We could not be more pleased and grateful for the proceeds raised by this event”, says Gervis LaFleur, President of LACAP.  “The funds generously given by Black Elk and the event sponsors will make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities in Louisiana.  I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to John Hoffman and the entire Black Elk Energy team for their continued support.  It has been a great two-year partnership with Black Elk and we look forward to many more to come.”   

For more information on the event contact Kari Schoeffler, Director of Special Projects for Black Elk Energy, at 281.598.8660 or visit www.EmpoweringTheCommunity.com.  DEEPFOTO Photography, a Houston-based photography service provider, graciously donated their services for the charity event.  Pictures of Empowering the Community are provided by DEEPFOTO Photography and can be found at www.blackelkenergy.com. 

About Black Elk Energy

Black Elk Energy, LLC is an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Houston, Texas.  Founded by seasoned industry executives, Black Elk Energy is dedicated to creating exceptional returns in oil and gas through acquisition and exploitation.  Black Elk Energy has a specific competitive geographic focus within the Southern Gulf Coast states and the Midwest.  Within the geographic area, their technical focus is on low risk reservoir exploitation opportunities and operational improvements.

 About LACAP

Louisiana Association of Community Action Partnerships (LACAP) is a private, non-profit agency organized to promote programs engaged in raising the economic and social standards of low-income residents in the State of Louisiana. LACAP manages the community action programs in all 64 parishes of the state. Each year, LACAP’s community action agencies assist over 600,000 Louisiana residents.