Rihanna sends $5,000 cheque to Illinois school

Rihanna has handed over a $5,000 donation to a school in Illinois to make amends for showing up over three hours late for a visit back in March (13).

The We Found Love hitmaker scheduled a visit to Barrington High School in suburban Chicago to meet pupils who raised $40,000 for charity and highlighted their efforts in a film made for her Shine Bright Like a Diamond video contest.

However, teachers almost cancelled the event as Rihanna left them all waiting for hours after her car was caught up in heavy traffic on the way to the venue.

The singer has now handed over a cheque to cover the school's security expenses.

A school spokesman tells local newspaper the Daily Herald, "We're certainly gratified to receive a contribution from her. Even though this $5,000 gift has been long in coming, her management communicated with us immediately after the event and said she wanted to do something for the students.

"It didn't take any coaxing or pleading by the district. It was something they offered to do, and it took a while to work through the book keeping process.

"She was late in coming that day and a lot of people waited anxiously for her appearance, and even though this money is late in coming, it's still appreciated."