Piedmont Macon honors Bren Powell with Community Hero Award
Powell was recognized for nearly 40 years as a social worker and her continued work with critically ill children through Rooms from the Heart.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Piedmont Macon honored Bren Powell with its Community Hero Award on Friday, recognizing her decades of service to young people and her continued efforts to help children and families across Middle Georgia.
Piedmont Macon created the award in 2023 to recognize people who make a difference in their communities, often behind the scenes.
Powell was nominated for nearly 40 years of work as a social worker serving young people in the juvenile justice system. Her nomination highlighted her compassion and commitment to helping children see their potential.
After retiring, Powell continued serving others through Rooms from the Heart, a nonprofit she co-founded that transforms bedrooms for critically ill children.
Powell said the organization began after volunteers helped a young girl with cancer whose family needed assistance designing a room for her to do schoolwork at home.
“We came across a young girl who had cancer and the family needed some help in designing a room because she did at-home school,” Powell said. “We did that one room, and it was such a good volunteer experience that we looked at doing other rooms.”
The organization works with children and their families to create personalized spaces that reflect each child’s interests and wishes.
Piedmont Macon CEO Stephen Daugherty said the award recognizes people who reflect the health system’s mission of making a positive difference in people’s lives.
“The mission of our health system is to make a positive difference in every life we touch,” Daugherty said. “And we like to see that in our community as well, and when we see it, we want to recognize it.”
Daugherty said he hopes the award encourages a continued culture of caring and giving throughout the community, both inside and outside the hospital.
In addition to the recognition, Powell received $500 to donate to a charity of her choice.
