Rihanna Sends $5K Check to Illinois High School

Pop star Rihanna is donating $5,000 to a suburban Chicago high school to cover the costs of her brief but tardy visit earlier this year.

Barrington Unit District 220 says the money was sent to offset expenses for security and signs for the musician's March trip to Barrington High School. The rest of the cash will be allocated for students.

The singer traveled to Chicago's northwestern suburbs after the school won her "Shine Bright Like a Diamond" video contest. Their five-minute, student-produced film highlighted the school's volunteer and community service programs.

But fans waited for more than four hours on the first day of the school's spring break. The Barbados-born singer didn't acknowledge her tardiness but instead went right into discussing the student-produced video that earned her visit.

"This is awesome," she told the crowd. "I wanted to come here because I was so impressed ... I was very touched seeing the video. I wanted to make sure I came and expressed that to you guys in person."

In a tweet, Rihanna blamed her delay on Chicago traffic.

While students waited, they got free tickets, CDs and signed merchandise.