The Hawaii Chapter of U.S. VETS has received a $1 million donation, the largest gift ever to the nonprofit that assists veterans and their families with housing, counseling and career support.

The MacNaughton Group, a Hawaii-based real estate investment and development firm, launched the MacNaughton Group Foundation at a news conference today at the U.S. VETS housing complex at Barber’s Point, where it announced its inaugural grant.

The donation is aimed at supporting the nonprofit’s mission to end homelessness for military veterans as well as honoring the memory of Alan Kidwell, a former Vietnam War veteran who was a childhood friend of and business advisor to Duncan MacNaughton, founder of the MacNaughton Group.

The foundation’s gift, to be released over five years, will go to programs that help veterans find permanent housing, initiatives that allow vets to stay in housing for longer periods and for other support services.

The gift will also be used to help renovate and rebuild the temporary recreational area of the U.S. VETS Barbers Point location. In the design stage, the existing deck will likely feature a new trellis, a rebuilt recreation room and new landscaping. It will also be renamed in Kidwell’s honor.