American Bridge Association

Since its inception, the ABA seeks to recognize its achievers and high ranking players. The Merit Award is given yearly to either an ABA or non-ABA member who has rendered meritorious service to the ABA within the previous year. Life memberships are awarded yearly to individuals who have been ABA members for at least twenty years and who have a record of outstanding service at the local sectional and national levels. Other prestigious awards are granted to those players amassing the most points within a calendar year.

Although highlighting the achievements of its own, the ABA also identifies with the larger social arena in which it functions. In 1963, the ABA established the F. Alberta Peterson Scholarship Award. This program has now been incorporated into a broader arm of the American Bridge Association Education and Charitable Foundation, established in 2002. The Foundation mission is to engage in educational and charitable activities, provide scholarships, and facilitate learning opportunities for young and adult citizens.

The vast history of the American Bridge Association is recorded and preserved in several ways. In the 1980s, the American Bridge Association selected the Schomburg Center in New York City to officially house its memorabilia. The ABA National Headquarters showcases artifacts and catalogs ABA documents. In 2005, the American Bridge Association published Defining Moments, a historical package which includes a written chronicle, DVD of oral history, and playing cards. These components depict the movements, forces, and people who helped shape the history of the ABA. The entire package or its components may be obtained from the ABA National Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia