United Way of Baytown Area was chartered in 1946 as the Tri-Cities and East Harris Community Chest after World War II ended.

During the war, Baytown area residents gave generously to the national war fund, with the contributions supporting a variety of local needs:

• community health,
• services and programs for returning war veterans,
• character building and recreational activity,
• as well as war relief.

The Tri-Cities Welfare League (known today as Baytown Resource & Assistance Center) received much of this money, and it was the Welfare League board that served as the first governing board for the new Community Chest.