United Way volunteer honored

Moss Blachman believes one of the strongest ingredients for making a better community is teamwork.

It’s a philosophy he long has maintained and an example he has modeled while distinguishing himself among the Midlands’ most dedicated community servants.

Blachman recently was presented the United Way of the Midlands’ Alyce Kemp DeWitt Award. The honor recognizes a volunteer whose creativity and passion have had a measurable impact on the community. He was formally recognized during the United Way’s Spring Community Assembly last week.

Blachman is assistant dean for continuing medical education and faculty development at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He had been a United Way board member since 2001, having served on four agency committees.

But his personal contributions, he said, are just a small part of the broader network of volunteer service in the area.

“There is an enormous wellspring of good faith in this community,” Blachman said. “The challenge is to find ways to help connect it, shape it.”

While devoted to a wide range of community needs, Blachman is particularly passionate about issues related to poverty, homelessness and discrimination. Much of his energies also have been aimed at making the United Way the kind of place that can best respond to such needs.

“He helped shape the councils, kept us focused on targeted investments, kept our attention on the agency ... and most of all, understood and promoted United Way of the Midlands as the place for community problem solving,” said Anita Floyd, United Way vice president for community impact. “He is among the most reliable, consistent, thoughtful and active board members of United Way.”

Blachman said he is proud of the way the agency has tackled the wide range of community needs — “not just in applying a Band-Aid, but also helping people take the next step.”

But that responsibility, he said, is one rightfully shared by citizens.

“I think this is an obligation we have no matter where we live,” he said. “Working with the United Way is a way to focus on all the major needs at the same time. That’s the beauty.”

Blachman and his wife, Penny Blachman, have four children — Aliza O’Keeffe, Karen Eisenthal, Max Blachman and Julia Blachman.