The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation has awarded $1 million – the largest gift ever – to Five Acres, an Altadena-based child and family services nonprofit.

The award, announced May 14 by Five Acres, will boost the nonprofit’s community-based mental health care, foster care and adoption services. Five Acres was established as an orphanage in 1888 and now operates from a campus in Altadena.

“This incredible gift from the Petersen Foundation will strengthen existing services and lay the groundwork for new and better ways for us to keep families together,” Five Acres Chief Executive Chanel Boutakidis said in a statement.

The foundation, established by the late publishing magnate and Petersen Automotive Museum founder Robert Petersen, had previously granted $123,000 to Five Acres.

Economy, education, energy and transportation reporter Howard Fine can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @howardafine.