Why I Give: Reggie Varra On His ‘Career of Giving Back’
Reggie Varra with his wife Andrea Varra
Throughout his career, Reggie Varra was often the only Black person in the room, an experience that motivated him to create opportunities for Black students to enter similar spaces. As a pillar of his community and a dedicated advocate for higher education, Varra actively supports UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and is a member of the UNCF Ambassador Andrew J. Young Society, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization. Through his giving, he seeks to fill the gaps in educational support he once faced, creating opportunities for the next generation and inspiring them to do the same.
While attending a Las Vegas high school, Varra learned that an environment of both competition and cooperation elevated not only himself, but those around him as well. Varra thrived in competitive learning environments, but he said it was through cooperation and his interactions and inquiries with fellow Black students that he learned about UNCF. This sparked his journey with the organization and foreshadowed his commitment to sharing resources and building a system of support for forthcoming generations of Black students.
At Arizona State University (ASU), Varra received scholarships from private donors interested in helping minority and Black engineering students at the university. Through this financial assistance, Varra was able to become the first in his family to attend college. He is still touched by this experience. “I received a couple of scholarships, and it made me feel so good,” he said. “So, I wanted to give back, and I wanted to see if I could have that same impact.” Years later, as chairman of the Retention Committee for Minority Engineering Students at ASU’s College of Engineering, Varra helped uplift and encourage students who felt left out at such a large institution.
Throughout his time in college, Varra worked summer jobs and interned at several well-known companies. “My summer jobs were with Motorola and Hewlett-Packard, and I had an internship with Arizona Public Service, a public utilities company,” he said. Varra noticed he was often the only Black student at each organization. This encouraged him to find ways to enable more Black students to be in those rooms. “I think all of the exposure drove me to want to help more Black students achieve, just as I was able to,” he explained.
After graduating from ASU in 1985, Varra joined Procter & Gamble and began donating to UNCF. While most recent graduates might have been focused on navigating work culture at their first “adult job,” Varra remembered his classmates at ASU whose finances held them back from completing their education. “There are many reasons why people drop out of school or don’t complete their education, but financial support is a significant one,” he said. “I’ve been very blessed in life and wanted to bless others in return.”
Varra’s career success highlights the lasting impact financial support can have on students. His career took him from Procter & Gamble to PepsiCo and eventually 21 years rising through the ranks of Nestlé, becoming the highest-ranking African American within Nestlé Waters of North America. Varra’s own journey of receiving support, using it to garner success and giving back to others underscores his donor philosophy.
He urges potential donors to consider their own experiences. “Think about a time when you needed support. Can you remember how you felt when you received that support—or didn’t? We can all pay it forward and lift others in the process. I urge you to get in the game and not sit on the sidelines while others are counting on you.”
And that philosophy is what can drive impact for many and ensure Better Futures® for us all.
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