ST. CHARLES – Pam Lloyd patiently stood in line outside the Arcada Theatre on June 19, hoping to meet one of St. Charles most famous residents – actor and singer Donnie Wahlberg.

"I've loved him since I was 8," Lloyd, 36, of Berwyn said. "I would love to meet him."

Wahlberg, a member of the group New Kids On The Block who also stars in the CBS show "Blue Bloods," on June 19 hosted a concert at the Arcada Theatre to benefit Generation Rescue, a nonprofit organization designed to provide hope, information and immediate treatment assistance to families affected by autism spectrum disorders. Generation Rescue provides medical treatment grants to families in need.

Wahlberg is married to actress and television/radio host Jenny McCarthy, whose son, Evan, was diagnosed with autism in 2005. McCarthy is board president of Generation Rescue.

Wahlberg and McCarthy were married at the Hotel Baker in St. Charles in 2014 and the second season of the A&E docu-series “Donnie Loves Jenny ” showed the couple’s move from New York City to St. Charles in 2015.

Special guests at the "Another Evening with Donnie Wahlberg" benefit included other members of New Kids On The Block, as well as members of Naughty By Nature and Boyz II Men. Last year's inaugural event raised more than $700,000 for Generation Rescue.

Traci Carr of Berwyn attended last year's show as well and has had the chance to talk to Wahlberg.

"I've talked to him a little bit through going on the New Kids On The Block cruise a couple of times," she said.

Carr also attended one of New Kids On The Block's recent shows at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont with Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul.

Prior to the start of the Arcada concert, McCarthy announced that ground was broken in St. Charles on June 19 for a new integrative health clinic operated by Generation Rescue. She said the number of children diagnosed with autism continues to grow at an alarming rate.

"When Evan was diagnosed, one out of every 150 children were being diagnosed with autism," McCarthy told the crowd. "Today, one in 42 boys is [diagnosed with autism.] How this is not on the front page of every single newspaper is beyond me."