Pittsburgh's Got Talent: Local Student Helping Former Miss USA With Medical Bills

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A local student is helping a former Miss USA pay for a double lung transplant.

RELATED: Former Miss USA Undergoes Life-Saving Double-Lung Transplant At UPMC

Michele McDonald Boeke, a student at Knoch High School at the time, was named Miss USA in 1971 and remains the only Miss USA from Pennsylvania.

In 2018, she underwent life-saving double lung transplant surgery at UPMC.

However, the medical bills that came with are enormous.

A local student organized a "Pittsburgh's Got Talent" fundraiser that took place at Pittsburgh Mills Mall on June 2.

"Her medication bills for a double lung transplant are extremely expensive," said Annie Rieg. "It was outrageous when I heard the amount and I just wanted to help her with that cost."

Their hope was to raise $5,000.