Radiowell Equips Schools with Donated Radios to Boost Safety

NEW YORK, NY – February 02, 2026 – Radiowell, a company known for repurposing used two-way radio equipment, has announced a new initiative aimed at bolstering safety in America's schools. The "Radios 4 Kids Donation Program" will provide functional, refurbished two-way radios to under-resourced public schools free of charge, addressing a critical need for reliable communication during emergencies.

Bridging a Critical Communication Gap

In an era of heightened school safety concerns, effective communication is paramount. However, many public school districts struggle with budgetary constraints that prevent them from upgrading their communication infrastructure. A Motorola survey highlighted this gap, revealing that while 40% of school personnel believe their district needs an updated communication system, 66% cite a lack of funds as the primary obstacle to acquiring two-way radios.

Schools often rely on a patchwork of systems, including public address (PA) systems and personal cell phones, each with significant limitations in a crisis. Cell phones, while ubiquitous, are notoriously unreliable during large-scale emergencies when networks become congested or fail entirely due to power outages. Dead zones within concrete school buildings further compromise their effectiveness. "We have zero cell reception in our building," noted an assistant principal at one Midwest elementary school. "The radios are our only means of communication during the school day."

PA systems, on the other hand, broadcast information indiscriminately. This lack of discretion can create unnecessary panic and compromise student privacy during sensitive situations. Radiowell's program aims to fill this void by providing a dedicated, reliable communication tool specifically designed for the challenges of a school environment.

"Many public schools lack adequate resources – be they financial or material – to communicate effectively during a crisis," said Radiowell spokesperson Andrew Park. "The Radios 4 Kids Donation Program provides used yet functional communication equipment to these institutions free of charge, so their on-campus personnel have the resources at hand when a critical situation arises."

A Lifeline in the Hallways

For educators and staff, instant and reliable communication can mean the difference between chaos and control. Two-way radios offer a distinct advantage over other technologies by providing immediate, push-to-talk functionality on a dedicated channel. This allows for both one-to-one conversations and one-to-many broadcasts, ensuring that administrators, teachers, and security personnel can coordinate seamlessly.

"Two-way radios are a cost-effective way to increase on-campus safety without putting student privacy at risk," Park explained. He added that unlike cell phones, "they work during emergencies, like power and cellular outages, or fire evacuations."

This reliability is a game-changer for staff on the ground. An educational assistant at a high school, who frequently works with special needs students, described the radios as an essential tool. "If I need help, I can't be fumbling with a cell phone and hoping I have a signal. With the radio, help is just a button-push away," she said.

The ability to create specific "talk groups" allows for targeted communication. For example, a security team can communicate discreetly about a suspicious individual on campus without alarming the entire student body, while administrators can coordinate a campus-wide response during a lockdown or evacuation. This targeted approach is something PA systems and group text messages cannot replicate effectively. A director of business services for one school district noted that after past school tragedies, the need for a more robust security solution became evident, and weak cell signals in their buildings made two-way radios the clear choice.

Corporate Responsibility Meets Circular Economy

The Radios 4 Kids program is more than just a philanthropic gesture; it is a direct extension of Radiowell's core business model, which is built on principles of sustainability and the circular economy. For 25 years, the company has been North America's largest buyer of used and obsolete two-way radio equipment. Instead of allowing this technology to end up in landfills, Radiowell acquires, repairs, and redistributes it.

This approach tackles the growing problem of electronic waste by extending the life cycle of valuable equipment. The company's mission is to ensure that equipment is repurposed as often as possible for a more sustainable planet. The donation program perfectly aligns with this mission, taking functional radios that might have been discarded by a larger organization and placing them in the hands of schools that desperately need them.

Radiowell's commitment to environmental responsibility is further demonstrated through its partnership with the non-profit organization OneTreePlanted. For every single radio the company purchases, it funds the planting of a new tree in a national forest, directly linking its business operations to a positive environmental impact. This integration of profit and purpose positions the company as a model for modern corporate social responsibility, where community support and environmental stewardship are woven into the fabric of the business itself.

How Schools Can Get Connected

Recognizing the urgent need in the public education sector, Radiowell has streamlined the process for schools to apply for a donation. The program is open to any accredited public K-12 educational institution in the United States seeking to enhance its emergency response strategies.

Interested schools are encouraged to visit the company's website to access the application. Each request is reviewed by the Radiowell team, and while the program operates on a limited-inventory basis depending on the equipment the company acquires, they work to fulfill requests as frequently as possible. The equipment, along with shipping, is provided completely free of charge to the recipient schools.

While the Radios 4 Kids program is new, Radiowell has a track record of similar grant initiatives for public safety agencies, demonstrating an established framework for managing equipment donations. By extending this model to schools, the company is providing a tangible and potentially life-saving resource. The program offers a practical solution that empowers teachers and staff, enhances student safety, and gives old technology a new and vital purpose within the community.