The American National Red Cross was founded on May 21, 1881, and is among the oldest recognized non-profit organizations in the country. The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The Cape Fear Chapter was founded on November 10, 1908 as the Wilmington Chapter of the American Red Cross. The Chapter celebrates its 105th anniversary November 10, 2013, and is the oldest Red Cross unit in North Carolina. The Onslow County Chapter was founded in 1917 and has a rich history of service and support to the military community, including partnership with local armed forces base installations. The Cape Fear and Onslow County Chapters serve Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Pender and Onslow counties, providing vital Red Cross programs and services, many of which are unduplicated, to area residents including: * emergency communications for military members and their families * support for area blood drives, donor recruitment and education efforts * dissemination of disaster prevention and preparedness information * immediate relief to local victims of disaster that is focused on meeting their emergency needs * lifesaving safety training courses in CPR, first aid, water and workplace safety * international tracing services that reconnect loved ones with family members separated by conflict throughout the world Each of these programs and services directly support the humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross and the organization's objective to build more resilient communities through localized initiatives.