With a little help from the community, five Petaluma students will receive scholarships to attend the 4H Leadership Conference this summer.

More than $2,000 was raised this Sunday by Fabulous Women, a philanthropic group started in 2006 by Krista Gawronski. This month's fundraiser was held at Dairydell, a Petaluma dog training ranch owned by Camilla Gray. The goal of the group is to bring women together to socialize and network while helping raise money for local families and organizations.

"Participating in 4H helps kids learn confidence, leadership and self-esteem," said Gawronski, 40, who owns Mr. Pickles.

More than 80 women gathered at Dairydell on Adobe Road to schmooze, share appetizers and, of course, donate to the program.

"We often feel that charity has to be painful, but this is fun," Gawronski said. "The group has this cool dynamics, where women can talk and share things that are important to them."

Gawronski started the networking events in 2006 to help a Petaluma woman whose husband had died suddenly, leaving her with two young children. She hasn't looked back since.

"It's kind of like that line in Forrest Gump where he says 'One day I just went out and started running.' I'm not going to stop running," she says.

Fabulous Women will hold their next fundraising and networking event on February 27 at Sally Tomatoes to raise money for Ling Murray, who was struck by a car while crossing a Rohnert Park street in December. Ling's two-year-old daughter, Calli Ann, died in the accident, while Ling remains in a rehabilitative facility. She does not have medical insurance, so the fundraiser is intended to offset some of the medical expenses. More information about the fundraiser is available at the group's site.