Custom Bowling Pin Trophies Headline MD Special Olympics Fundraiser

TIMONIUM, MD — Among the cheers for every strike (or occasional gutter ball), it wasn't the average Tuesday at a Lucky Strike in Timonium, where a table topped with specialized bowling pins could be spotted.

Altered and decorated to mirror notable artists such as Kurt Cobain, Madonna and Vanilla Ice, the bowling pins served as trophies for the 4th annual "Pins with a Purpose" fundraiser.

The regional office of the Janney Montgomery Scott investment firm backs the event, which helps raise funds to support tens of thousands of Special Olympics Maryland athletes.

The annual fundraiser sees athletes paired with Janney employees for a round of friendly competition while also crowdfunding so athletes can compete year-round at no cost.

'Really Fell In Love With It'

One of the big highlights of the event, however, is the trophy presentation at the end of the competition.

Unlike the run-of-the-mill gold cup trophies some events use, the Janney fundraiser provides custom bowling pin awards created by local artist Lindsey Williams, who also works as a private client associate with Towson Partners Wealth Management of Janney Montgomery Scott.

See video of the custom bowling pins below:

From a cheerleader to a clown and a lane shark, every iteration of the bowling pins she's made over the last four years takes on a new theme.

While this year's release highlighted musicians from the 1990s, the collection on display also featured a pin depicting the fictional Jon Snow character from the popular "Game of Thrones" series.

Williams told Patch that every bowling pin takes more than 40 hours to create.

"I never thought that I would be making people out of plastic bowling pins, but it kind of just fell into my lap when Janney started hosting and sponsoring this great event that they do each year," Williams said.

"I just really fell in love with it. I mean, honestly, I love doing it."

Williams graduated from Towson University with an arts degree specializing in oil painting.

While the investment firm holds her attention during the day, her more creative side takes over at night, sometimes running until about 1 a.m. or later, depending on whether a pin-related crisis emerges.

"It's an interesting concept that I honestly, in my wildest dreams, I never would've imagined that that's what I would be dedicating so much time to doing," she told Patch.

"I'm really proud of them. I'm flattered and always so complimented when people like them and admire them. ... It's a good feeling when you're an artist and people like what you've done."

The pins, Williams stresses, are entirely decorative and not intended to be used as traditional bowling pins. "If I saw that happening, I would probably cry," she said.

As the pins have grown in popularity over the years, Williams has launched her own Etsy shop, where she plans to sell a variety of items.

Residents interested in snagging custom work can do so through Williams' Fox and the Stars Studio shop.

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