The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest health-related philanthropy, has announced a three-year, $300 million initiative which aims to reduce disparities in the health care system generated by race and area.

The announcement follows the results of a report by researchers at Dartmouth Medical School institute, led by Elliott Fisher, which found that black people suffering from diabetes or vascular disease are five times more likely than white people to have a leg amputated, among other worrying facts.

The initiative will focus on 14 communities and regions around the country which are worst-faring in terms of disparities in health care. The money will be used to bring together doctors, employers, patients and others and evaluate which chronic illnesses need to be addressed.

Overall, the disparities are clear: blacks are less likely to receive the adequate medical care than whites, people in Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina are more likely to have an amputation that residents in Colorado and Nevada, and not all women are able to have a mammography as often as they should.

The areas to take part in the $300 million project are: Cincinnati; Cleveland; Detroit; Humboldt County, Calif; Kansas City, Mo.; Memphis; Minnesota; Seattle; Wisconsin; South Central Pennsylvania, Western Michigan, Western New York and Willamette Valley, Ore.