Alyssa Cwanger, Post-Gazette

Wendelynne J. Newton Age: 49 Residence: McCandless Hometown: Born in Cleveland, grew up in Houston, Texas Occupation: Antitrust attorney with Buchanan Ingersoll PC; adjunct professor at University of Pittsburgh School of Law In the news: Recipient of the 2004 United Way Sen. John Heinz Award, given to a volunteer whose work preserves and strengthens families. Quote: "These are kids who were just born into a really bad situation and it's easy to get behind an agency going to look out for that vulnerable population." Education: Bachelor's from Wooster College, law degree from the University of Pittsburgh Family: Husband, Bob Metcalfe; daughter Maire, 16; and son, Max, 12

Like most people, Wendelynn J. Newton feels sick when she reads about some horrible child abuse case. Unlike most, however, she has spent nearly 20 years trying to do something about it.

An antitrust lawyer with Buchanan Ingersoll, Newton is president of the board of KidsVoice, a nonprofit agency that represents every dependent, abused or neglected child who appears in Allegheny County's family court. She also has been a volunteer in-court advocate for individual children.

In honor of her work, last week she received the 2004 Sen. John Heinz Award, which recognizes a volunteer whose efforts preserve and strengthen families. The award included a $10,000 donation to KidsVoice.

"While I certainly don't do this for the recognition, it's wonderful that my efforts are being acknowledged by a gift to KidsVoice," Newton, 49, of McCandless, said in a formal statement announcing the honor. "It shows that what you're doing really matters -- and that we really can make a difference in our community."

Her involvement dates to 1986, when one of her law partners thought she'd be interested. She started out as a board member and a volunteer attorney.

"What I really liked was that they represent dependent and neglected children in Allegheny County," she said. "And what that means is that it is a child that did nothing wrong except being born into a horrible situation. They're not in trouble with the law. ... It's easy to get behind an agency going to look out for that vulnerable population."

Her work with those children heightens her distress when she hears of children who died of neglect or were killed by a family member.

"Any time you read things like that, that didn't have to happen, I feel sort of sick. Not in a judgemental way but in a what could have been happening so [the death] didn't have to happen way," Newton said. "There's a lot of people looking to adopt, and when children are found dead, you ask why did that have to happen?"

In the last few years, KidsVoice has made available to staff lawyers the advice of people in social work, children development, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, special education, mental health and foster care. That helps them make the proper recommendations to the court for services tailored to each child.

Scott Hollander, executive director of KidsVoice, said Newton was instrumental in turning his vision for a new model of advocacy into reality.

"She's very hard-working and smart and takes the lead on things and is able to bring others in by being open to changing other things," he said.

"She's engaging and energetic and smart and insightful, and by combining those traits with her hard work, that's helped us move the board and whole agency to being able to create a model for creating a better home for all children. She's a leader."

"What fuels her is her real desire to do right by the kids," said Stella Smetanka, a University of Pittsburgh law school professor and past president of KidsVoice. "I think that's what keeps her going."

A real desire to do what's right is the signature of everything Newton puts her attention to, whether it be antitrust cases, her family, Girl Scouts, her teaching, or additional volunteer work as a board member of United Way and the United Methodist Foundation and member of the advisory council to Coro Women in Leadership Program.

Smetanka said Newton's classes are so popular that some of her students cut short a trip to see the Supreme Court in action in Washington, D.C.

"They said 'We want to leave after arguments. We want to get back for Wendy's class.' It wasn't fear. They really enjoyed her class. The students really love her as a teacher," Smetanka said.

Mary Ann Dunham, a fellow Buchanan Ingersoll lawyer, was one of the people who nominated Newton for the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania's Woman of Distinction Award in the professional category a few years ago. Newton won.

During the application process, Dunham said she was "astounded" by just how much Newton did and how well she did it.

"She's recognized as one of the premier antitrust attorneys in the country -- not just Pennsylvania," Dunham said.

But Newton has made her mark on her law firm in other ways as well.

"Wendy at a very young age was elected the first female director on the board at the law firm," Dunham said. "She took on as a young shareholder implementing a bunch of different programs to better our firm, like its programs with associates.

"She also played an instrumental role in implementing an alternative work schedule. She led efforts in those areas at a time it wasn't commonplace. She was a little bit of a trailblazer from that perspective.

"She did those things for other people. Wendy's out there to make things better for others."

Newton says she has no choice.

"I really do believe I've been blessed and giving back is a privilege and an obligation," she said. "That's my mantra."