Brief History of Islamic Foundation
1974: Founded and registered Foundation with the State of Illinois as a not-for-profit organization
1975: Recognized by the United States as a tax-exempt organization.
1975: Established weekend Islamic school for children in a rented classroom with enrollment of 36 students.
1983: Purchased a former public school building (24,000 square feet) on a 7.1-acre lot and simultaneously purchased a house adjacent to this land for use as the Imam’s residence.
1984: Established a Muslim cemetery with a space for 1,125 grave-sites, as part of Arlington Cemetery, at 401 E Lake Street, Elmhurst, Illinois.
1988: Established a full-time school for kindergarten to grade 8, and later added a preschool for children, ages 3-5.
1993: Expanded parking facilities with installation of floodlights.
1995: Began construction of a new mosque to accommodate the growing community.
1997: Established a high school with grade 9 and gradually expanded to grade 12 by 2000. Also added a playground and completed an upgrade of all heating units in the school building.
1998: Completed construction of the Masjid along with the additional space that today includes a book store, library and reading room, banquet/lecture hall, kitchen, and offices for the Foundation staff.
1999: Further extended the existing parking facility.
2003: Added the parking lot on the west side of the Masjid.
2007: Established a second cemetery, Al-Fatiha Gardens, for 336 grave sites in Chapel Hill Gardens at 17 West 201 Roosevelt Road, Oak Brook Terrace, Illinois.
2007: Started construction of a new three-story building including a state-of-the-art regulation-size gymnasium (paused in 2009 after completing all exterior work due to financial considerations).
2012: Completed and furnished first floor of the new school building – moved high school classes from trailers to the new building.
2014: Completed and furnished second floor of the new school building – moved all the middle school classes from trailers to the new building.
2016: Completed the lower level of the new school building – moved rest of the middle school classes, and labs.
2017: Completed the construction of community center, administration offices, and conference rooms.
2018: Renovated the Old School Building by replacing the entire roof and ceiling.
