A black-tie gala on Saturday, Sept. 12, will kick off Elmhurst Hospital's centennial year and raise money toward a $50 million campaign funding the hospital's largest expansion in decades.

The Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation's 22nd Annual Autumn Affair takes place at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 East Delaware Place, according to the foundation's announcement. The hospital opened in 1926 as DuPage County's first.

This year's headliner is pianist Adam Chester, known as the "Surrogate Elton." Chester has served as Sir Elton John's official on-stage stand-in, rehearsal pianist and choral conductor for more than 20 years. He performed at Elton John's final U.S. concert at Dodger Stadium in 2022 and at the Glastonbury Festival Main Stage in 2023, according to his website.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction. Dinner follows, along with a live auction led by auctioneer Keith Jones and dancing to live music by The DJ Firm.

Proceeds support the foundation's Centennial Campaign, which aims to raise $50 million toward Endeavor Health's broader $100 million expansion of the Elmhurst campus, according to the campaign page. The project adds more than 40,000 square feet and two new floors. Planned additions include three operating rooms enabling 2,000 more surgeries annually, four labor and delivery rooms supporting 500 additional births per year, 14 infusion bays increasing cancer center capacity by 30%, and nine cardiovascular exam rooms.

The expansion is already underway. In July, the hospital opened a 16-bed observation unit off its east lobby, the campaign's first completed project, Patch reported. Future phases include a two-story addition above the Nancy Knowles Cancer Center and a new medical office building.

"For 100 years, this hospital has been a pillar of the community, and we are committed to evolving to meet its needs for the next century," Dr. Kim Darey, the hospital's president, said in July when the observation unit opened.

Susan Tyburski, the foundation's executive director, leads the fundraising effort. Kenneth Wegner chairs the foundation's board of trustees.

Sponsorship opportunities remain available. Tables of ten and individual tickets can be purchased at emhfoundation.org/autumnaffair or by calling (331) 221-0388.