Mount Vernon’s Jim Caviezel rallies support from Hollywood A-listers for Oso

Washington-bred actor Jim Caviezel, known for best for his roles in “The Passion of the Christ” and his current CBS series “Person of Interest” is stepping up to help victims of the mudslide in Oso.

“It hit my heart. It’s a part of where I grew up. I’m from Conway, Washington in the Skagit Valley area. I grew up and went to Mount Vernon High School,” Caviezel tells KIRO Radio’s Jason Rantz.

“Immediately, it was like what can we do to help, maybe generate funds, anything I can do in this world of Hollywood and being close to many professional athletes and actors.”

Caviezel, along with life-long friend and Arlington business owner Andy Brown, came up with the idea of hosting an auction, and Caviezel called up a few folks in Hollywood to help out.

“People that have generously already given to it are Arnold Schwarzenegger, Will and Jada Smith, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, the show that I do, the writers and producers from ‘Person of Interest,’ and Mel Gibson, just to name a few,” says Caviezel, who threw in his cast chair from the ‘Person of Interest’ set.

The event begins 5 p.m. Friday at Magnolia Hall in Arlington, and Brown says all funds raised will go to the Cascade Valley Hospital Disaster Relief Fund.

“We specifically decided to give the funds to this organization because they’re 100 percent volunteer run and they specifically designate the funds to go to pay for funeral expenses for the victims,” says Brown. “Any money that is left over, they will donate to the local food banks.”

Caviezel says this type of disaster could hit anyone and his faith inspired him to step up and support this community.

“I want to be a part of helping that process of bringing peace back to people’s lives and bringing hope to them,” he says.