Diane Helgeland

Diane's passion for service, education, and horses led her to found Partners for Progress, NFP, where she serves as Executive Director. With a degree in Special Education from Illinois State University, Diane’s journey was shaped by personal experience—growing up on a dairy farm alongside her brother, who was born with Down Syndrome.

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Her career began in Special Education, but her love for horses ran just as deep. While raising her children and managing an equine boarding facility for over 15 years, she supported their championship-level riding careers. Eager to help them excel, she trained under world-class instructors—an experience that inspired her to start coaching riders herself.

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Diane is a Level I Certified instructor with the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) and has spent over two decades working with children with disabilities, mental health challenges, and at-risk youth. At Partners for Progress, she has built a results-driven, therapeutic riding program that empowers riders to achieve functional gains and personal milestones.