Friends Of Teens Who Drowned Start Fund To Build Memorial

BRIGEVIEW, IL — Donations are being collected for a Bridgeview teen and his friends who died in a drowning accident in Indiana. The Zakat Foundation of America has set up a Facebook fundraiser to build a memorial for the three young men.

Mohammed Obied, 16, of Bridgeview had just entered his senior year at Stagg High School. His 18-year-old friend Yousef Saleh had graduated from Stagg this past spring. The teens were with friends when they got caught in Lake Michigan’s rip currents near the Portage Riverwalk on Aug. 16.

A Rockford man, Moath Nagi, 21, died the same day when he was found submerged underwater for an extended time near Porter Beach, Ind. Their deaths have rocked the southwest suburban Muslim Community.

>>> 2 Stagg High School Students, 1 Adult Drown In Indiana

The Zakat Foundation is raising money to honor the young men by building a mosque and water well, which endeavors to alleviate the immediate needs of the world’s poorest communities through sustainable development projects. Zakat and Sadaqa also serves as a resource center for Muslim donors.

Funeral services for Mohammad and Yousef were held at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview. Donations can be made through the “Mosque & Water Well Construction on Behalf of Yousef, Mua’th & Mohamed” Facebook page.

“Sunday, August 16th was a sad day for our Bridgeview, Illinois community, hearing that 5 of its children were in a drowning accident leaving 3 who didn’t make it home,” organizers said. “They were great [young] men, who many spoke highly of. Their family and friends would love to honor them by building a masjid [mosque] and water well in their name.”