Bay News 9 features Susan Korabek as an Everyday Hero: Scholarships bring music to her ears

Susan Korbek talks to Bay News 9

June 24, 2013

PALM HARBOR -- After no longer being able to stand the quiet of her home after the death of her son, Susan Korabek of Palm Harbor discovered music was a way to heal her family and thousands of others who lost someone to prescription drugs.

Her son Landon died of an overdose three years ago at the age of 17.

"When the autopsy came back, it said he'd overdosed on a combination of Vicodin and Xanax," she said. "I don't know if it was his first time. I tell students one time can kill you."

Since Landon's death, Susan has been busy. She started the One Love JamFest to fund a foundation in Landon's name at Ruth Eckerd Hall's Hoffman Performing Arts Institute.

The annual concert has raised $48,000 so far, allowing local students to attend the Institute and receive interactive music instruction in such places as New York City and the White House.

Susan, through the Pinellas Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education group, has also spoken to 30,000 students to warn them of the dangers of prescription drugs.

"My husband and I decided we have to do something to focus our energy to see if we could prevent another family from going through this," she said. "That's when we established our Foundation and created the One Love JamFest in Landon's memory."

"We have to educate kids. We'll continue to do it as long as our foundation and the JamFest can raise money. It's not about a few thousand dollars. It's about continuing the legacy of Landon."